Residential crisis services as an alternative to inpatient care

The authors report the results from a study of residential crisis Program house in Missouri. Like other programs of its kind, the program is designed to provide a home-like atmosphere for consumers experiencing acute episodes. The study contributes to a quantitative comparative evaluation of the effectiveness of such programs; it suggests that a residential crisis program is a less expensive alternative to hospitalization and appears to serve the short-term stabilization needs of its clientele. Client self-reports confirm return to preadmission functioning and high levels of satisfaction.