The mission of the Adult Inpatient Psychiatry Service is to deliver tertiary level inpatient psychiatric care that is comprehensive, accessible, and cost effective to eligible patients residing in the National Capital Area, as well as to those serving the nation throughout the globe. Other trainees who rotate through the service include U.S. Army psychology interns, and students from occupational therapy, 91C school, the George Mason School of Nursing, and the George Washington Social Work Program. In CY2001, the U.S. Army's psychiatric nursing students will begin training at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Hospitalization is limited to voluntary, eligible patients.
The exception is the active duty patient, who may be involuntarily hospitalized using the DODD 6490.1 and DODD 6490.4 as guidelines. The sources of the admissions are quite diverse. In keeping with the principle of utilizing the least restrictive environment for the treatment of acute severe psychiatric conditions, the service is very aggressive in evaluating and reducing target symptoms with psychopharmacological agents. Regression is discouraged. Defenses are supported with appropriate medical, psychological and environmental interventions.