Day treatment: suitability and referral procedure.

In a prospective screening of emergency admissions of patients suffering from neurosis, personality disorder or adjustment reaction, 100 were assessed as suitable for early transfer to day hospital treatment, 101 as unsuitable, and 39 as not requiring further intervention. Of the unsuitable patients, 39 were grossly disturbed; the remainder did not differ in severity from those thought suitable, but there was a specific reason against day treatment in all but 13 of the 62--most commonly alcohol abuse, physical problems, social problems or aggression. Patients' attitudes were also important. Recruitment of patients had to be active, with regular visits to the wards by day hospital staff.