Which policy shift involved moving people with serious mental illness from inpatient hospitals to outpatient services?

• A. Deinstitutionalization
• B. The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society
• C. Modern problems (4)
• D. Griggs v. Duke Power Co

Answer: (A)

This question tests understanding of a major policy shift in mental health care. The move from locking people with serious mental illness in inpatient hospitals to treating them in outpatient, community-based settings is known as deinstitutionalization. It arose in the mid-20th century as medicines improved and civil rights ideas gained traction, pushing for treatment that was less restrictive and more integrated into daily life. Policies like expanding community mental health centers and funding for outpatient services were aimed at reducing reliance on large psychiatric institutions while promoting autonomy and normal life functioning. In theory, it would empower individuals to receive care in less restrictive environments and close oversized hospitals, but in practice it often outpaced available community resources, leading to gaps in care for some and unintended consequences such as homelessness or involvement with the criminal justice system. Among the options, only deinstitutionalization directly describes a shift from inpatient hospitals to outpatient services. The other choices refer to Crime policy, broad modern problems, or a civil rights employment case, which do not capture this specific mental health policy transition.