ADOLESCENTS and young adults account for a major segment of the treatable population in mental hospitals. They are an active group and will present serious management problems if their particular needs are not recognized. Although programs for the treatment of adolescents have been developed and reported in the literature, there have been no such reports, to our knowledge, about young adults. This paper will describe the rationale, origins, and development of a hospital program for young adults, ages 18 to 25, at the Psychosomatic and Psychiatric Institute of Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago. Based on our experience, we feel that a program considering the developmental needs of young adults provides a meaningful approach and is essential to a productive hospitalization.

During the 18-month period from Jan 1, 1968 to June 30, 1969, young adults accounted for 19.3% or 136