A psychiatric ambulatory care service in a general hospital which has attempted to incorporate in the program design many of the modern concepts of community psychiatry is described. There is indication that the theoretical orientation of such a program must be discriminatingly eclectic and that the general systems approach, in addition to being operationally useful, offers a framework within which different behavioural models can be accommodated.
The value of program monitoring to provide ongoing feedback to the administrators of such programs and to provide a data base for studies of outcome and cost effectiveness is emphasized.
References
1.
AllportG. W.: The open system and personality theory; J. Abnorm. Soc. Psychol., 61, p. 301, 1960.
2.
AuerswaldE. H.: Interdisciplinary versus ecological approach; Family Process,7, p. 201, Sept. 1968.
3.
BouldingK. E.: General systems theory — the skeleton of science; Management Science,2, p. 197, 1956.
4.
BrownJ. H., and HarveyN. L.: Psychiatric emergencies in the general hospital; a review; Canad. Psychiat. Ass. J.,16, p. 105, 1971.
5.
CaplanG.: The Theory and Practice of Mental Health Consultations;New York, Basic Books, 1970.
6.
CaplanG.: Recent Trends in Preventative Child Psychiatry; in Emotional Problems in Early Childhood;CaplanG., ed. New York, Basic Books, 1955.
7.
CaplanG.: Current Issues Relating to the Training of Psychiatry Residents in Community Psychiatry; in Concepts of of Community Psychiatry;GoldstonS. E., ed. U.S. Public Health Service Publication #1319.
8.
CarstairsG. M.: “Problems of Evaluative Research”; in Community Mental Health;Williams, and Ozarin, eds. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Inc., 1968.
9.
Community Mental Health and Social Psychiatry; a reference guide, Harvard University Press, 1962.
10.
Co-ordinate index reference guide to community mental health; Behavioral Publications, 1969.
11.
DarbonneA.: Crisis: a review of theory, practice and research; Psychotherapy, Theory, Research and Practice,4, part 2, p. 49, May, 1967.
12.
FeldmanS. E., and JacobsonM.: Intake policy as a community organization tool; Community Ment. Health J.,5, No. 1, 1969.
13.
GlidewellJ. C.: Research Problems in Community Psychology; in Perspectives in Community Mental Health;Bindman, and Spiegel, eds. Chicago, Aldine, 1969.
14.
HendersonH. W.: The changing responsibility of government in the care and treatment of the mentally ill; Canad. Psychiat. Ass. J.,13, p. 3, 1968.
15.
HerzogE.: Some notes on evaluative research; in Perspectives in Community Mental Health;Bindman, and Spiegel, eds. Chicago, Aldine, 1969.
16.
KesselN.: The Whirligig of Time: A Cautionary Tale; in Community Mental Health;Williams, and Ozarin, eds. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Inc.,1968.
17.
KolbL. C.: Community mental health centres; Int. J. Psychiatry,9, part 8, p. 283, 1970–71.
18.
LindemannE.: Symptomatology and management of acute grief; Am. J. Psychiatry,101, p. 141, Sept. 1944.
19.
MesnikoffA. M.: Dilemmas in community psychiatry; Int. J. Psychiatry,10, part 8, p. 312, 1970–71.
20.
NeufeldtA. H.: Planning for comprehensive mental health programs;C.M.H. Supplement No. 67, March-April, 1971.
21.
NewbroughJ. R.: Community Mental Health; A movement in Search of a Theory; in Perspectives in Community Mental Health;Bindman, and Spiegel, eds. Chicago, Aldine, 1969.
22.
PepperB.: From concept to reality; Int. J. Psychiatry,9, part 8, p. 319, 1970–71.
23.
SchulbergH. C., BakerF.: The care-giving system in community mental health programs; an application of open systems theory.Community Ment. Health J.,6, No. 6, p. 437, 1970.
24.
SpiroH. R.: On beyond mental health centers — a planning model for psychiatric care; Arch. Gen. Psychiatry,21, p. 646, Dec. 1969.
25.
von BertalanffyL.: General systems theory —- a critical review; General Systems, 7, p. 1, 1962.
26.
WilliamsR. H.: Epilogue; in Community Mental Health;Williams, and Ozarin, eds. San Francisco, Jossey-Bass Inc., 1968.
27.
ZussmanJ.: Design of catchment areas for community mental health services; Arch. Gen. Psychiatry,21, p. 568, Nov. 1969.
