On the Need for Interprofessional Collaboration: Psychiatry and Architecture

This paper has emphasized the need for collaboration between psychiatry and architecture. It has put forth proposals designed for the purpose of implementing new approaches to the prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of persons with mental disorders. Evaluation procedures, which will help to reshape the programs in light of changing needs, must be built into every aspect of all programs, including those for architectural design. Flexibility must be incorporated into the physical structure. Phased architectural design and construction can be used in the same way that psychiatric programs are implemented in stages, thus insuring meeting future program needs.

The community mental health center concept is new, and many questions regarding its operation remain unanswered. Effective collaboration between psychiatrists and architects is essential to avoid repetition of past errors. Care must be taken to create a facility to survive the test of usage, as well as a building to survive the test of time.