Day treatment programs are a comprehensive form of outpatient therapy used to treat various types of mental illnesses including mood disorders, anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia and substance dependence, among others.

In day treatment programs, patients continue to live at home, but commute to a mental health facility, hospital or other specialized treatment center up to seven days a week for various types of counseling and educational and rehabilitation therapies.

While attending these programs, patients receive treatment by a team of healthcare practitioners that includes mental health professionals and general health physicians.

The goal of day treatment programs is to rehabilitate patients with various mental conditions so that they can function more independently in the community. To accomplish this, a variety of therapies are often used. These may include:

• Psychosocial rehabilitation
• Illness management skills
• Family education/therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Medication management