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Tested hypotheses, empirically generated from rating scales, which predicted that patients treated in partial, day hospital settings improve more in intellectual efficiency and social interaction than patients treated in full time, inpatient settings. Thirty matched pairs of day hospital and inpatient volunteers were administered a group psychological test battery at the beginning of treatment and then 5 weeks later. The day hospital sample differed significantly on 7 of 24 pre‐ and posttest measures, the inpatient sample on 2. Gains occurred primarily in increased intellectual efficiency and social interaction. Multiple discriminant function analyses yielded no significant pretest differences, but posttest differences approached significance (p < .06); day hospital patients registered increased Extraversion (Eysenck Personality Inventory).

An information processing system for a psychiatric emergency room is described. Several studies are presented that show the utility of the system. In the first study, variables involved in diagnosis are explicated. The second study attempts to determine the characteristics that distinguish recidivists from nonrecidivists at an emergency room. The third study attempts to find patient variables related to success in short-term treatment programs. The final study is aimed at discovering whether there are psychopathological effects related to the use of inhalants. Together, these studies show the potential of a mental health information system for learning more about the nature of mental disorders and their treatment.This paper describes an information processing system developed for use in a psychiatric emergency room. The nature of the system and a series of studies conducted in the emergency room setting are described.