Inpatient Hospitalization for psychiatric illness has come a long way from straight-jackets, rubber rooms, and metal beds. A long way from wicked nurses or frightening procedures.

Inpatient hospitalization can be voluntary—meaning you agree with your treating therapist, doctors, or loved ones to seek more intensive care. Other times, inpatient hospitalization is not voluntary. This is clinically called involuntary or compulsory hospitalization, where you do not wish to go or seek hospital care. 

Outcome studies show that voluntary hospitalization results in more positive outcomes than involuntary hospitalization. In this article, voluntary inpatient care will be the subject focus. 

To read more, link to my Psychology Today article here