Day programming for post-traumatic stress disorder

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is the recurring and intrusive recollection of an overwhelming traumatic event. The treatment of PTSD includes psychotherapy (e.g. exposure psychotherapy, supportive psychotherapy) and drug therapy. As with other mental health conditions, the provision of therapy for PTSD may occur in different settings (e.g. hospital or community) and in varying program intensities (e.g. inpatient/overnight, outpatient, day programs). Day programs for mental health conditions provide therapeutic support to individuals for several hours per day while they remain in the community, and may be administered through a hospital or a community-based clinic. In general, day programs may offer certain advantages over inpatient care including a less restrictive setting for patients, lower costs, and possibly similar outcomes. In comparison to outpatient care which typically has shorter session durations (e.g. one-hour psychotherapy) and may have fewer sessions over the same period of time, day programs may be more effective. However, these findings may differ by mental health condition. The present review was conducted to assess the evidence for the relative clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of day programming, specifically in PTSD. A search for evidence-based guidelines on the use of day programming in PTSD was also conducted with the aim of informing policy on current practice.