Bernard Kutner

A therapeutic community in a general hospital: Adaptation to a rehabilitation service

Abstract We believe that the milieu type of therapy is appropriate for a rehabilitation ward. The problems of social isolation, atrophy of social skills, and increasing inability to return to normal community life are true of all chronically disabled patients whether the injury is physical or mental. We have indicated some of the differences between the two types of illness which require special adaptive features when a therapeutic community is instituted on a rehabilitation ward. We not only believe that such a treatment program is possible but are at present actively engaged in a research project to demonstrate and evaluate the use of the therapeutic community along the lines suggested in this paper. Future papers describing the action phase of the project will follow.