Patient flow in a social psychiatric treatment model

: The Department of Social Psychiatry at the Free University of Berlin offers a mode of treatment that comprises semi-inpatient, complementary and outpatient treatment in close cooperation with facilities for full inpatient treatment. This relatively comprehensive system is examined for its patient flow. The authors observed over a period of three years to what extent patient flow followed lines as recommended in literature for step-by-step rehabilitation and flexible retransfer. Furthermore the differences in utilising the system by first admissions and readmissions to the Department are described.