A Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) is a highly structured and intensive treatment option for individuals dealing with mental health or substance use issues. This level of care provides comprehensive support for patients whose symptoms are too severe for traditional weekly therapy but do not require 24-hour supervision. A PHP often functions as a bridge, helping a patient transition out of a hospital stay or preventing the need for hospitalization. The intensity of this treatment, which occurs at a facility for most of the day, often leads to confusion about whether it is an inpatient or an outpatient service.
The Classification of Partial Hospitalization Programs
A Partial Hospitalization Program is formally classified as an outpatient service, despite its high degree of structure and time commitment. The determining factor is that the patient does not remain overnight at the treatment facility. Instead, they attend the program for several hours each day and return home or to a stable residence in the evenings. This model is sometimes referred to as “day treatment.” The outpatient designation allows individuals to maintain connections to their daily lives while receiving intensive clinical support. Licensing departments recognize PHP under outpatient regulations, even though the treatment intensity rivals that of a short-term inpatient stay.
Daily Activities and Treatment Modalities
The structure of a Partial Hospitalization Program is characterized by high frequency and duration, typically requiring attendance five days per week for four to six hours per day. This totals a minimum of 20 hours of therapeutic services weekly, which is often required for insurance authorization. The patient’s day begins with a morning check-in group for mood assessment and goal setting, allowing the clinical team to monitor stabilization.
Treatment Modalities
- Group therapy, which is the cornerstone of the PHP experience and focuses on coping skills, emotional regulation, and trauma management using techniques like Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
- Psychoeducation sessions, integrated to teach patients about their diagnosis, symptom management, and relapse prevention strategies.
- Individual counseling, ensuring one-on-one sessions with a primary therapist at least once per week.
- Medication management, where a psychiatrist reviews prescriptions and monitors a patient’s response.
- Experiential therapies, such as art or movement therapy, to offer alternative avenues for self-expression.
The Continuum of Care: Comparing Treatment Levels
The level of care in mental health and substance abuse treatment exists on a spectrum, with PHP occupying a specific space between the most restrictive and the most flexible options. The most intensive level is Inpatient Hospitalization, which provides 24/7 medical and psychiatric supervision in a secure environment. Inpatient care is reserved for individuals in acute crisis who pose a safety risk or require continuous medical monitoring.
The Partial Hospitalization Program is a step down from this 24-hour environment, focusing on intensive clinical programming during daylight hours without requiring overnight stays. Patients in a PHP must be medically stable and capable of maintaining their safety outside of the facility. This structure provides a therapeutic dose of treatment while allowing the patient to practice new skills in a real-world setting each evening.
The next step down is the Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP), designed for individuals who require ongoing support but need greater flexibility. IOP typically involves fewer hours per week, often nine to twelve hours total across three to five days. Patients often transition to an IOP before returning to standard outpatient therapy. Movement through this continuum is determined by a patient’s clinical stability and their ability to function safely with increasing autonomy.
Determining the Right Level of Care
A clinical assessment determines if a Partial Hospitalization Program is the most appropriate treatment option. PHPs are suitable for patients experiencing an acute increase in symptoms, such as severe depression, anxiety, or substance use cravings, that cannot be managed by less intensive treatment. The patient must not require round-the-clock monitoring or complex medical intervention, which excludes those with active suicidal ideation or severe, unmanaged medical conditions.
PHP serves as a “step-down” program for those recently discharged from an inpatient stay who need a structured transition back to daily life. It is also utilized as a “step-up” for individuals whose symptoms are worsening despite standard outpatient therapy, aiming to stabilize their condition before full hospitalization is needed. Admission criteria focus on the need for at least 20 hours of structured treatment weekly and the ability to benefit from group-focused therapy while maintaining a stable home environment.