Bremen-East Hospital will launch two new clinical services for people with mental illnesses in 2025. The Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine and Psychotherapy has opened a new day clinic with nine places, thus creating a partial hospitalization program for the first time.
Child and adolescent psychiatry expands adolescent ward
The Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Psychotherapy, and Psychosomatics, including its adolescent ward specifically designed to meet the needs of mentally ill young people, has moved to a new building, thus expanding its capacity and services. The psychosomatic day clinic treats patients with the same disorders as the inpatient unit – individuals with anxiety disorders, depression, eating disorders, somatoform disorders manifesting as vague physical complaints, including pain disorders and trauma-related disorders.
Making it possible to cope well with everyday life again
The aim is to prevent the chronicity of illnesses through a compact, time-limited, but very intensive program and to strengthen resources so that coping well with everyday life becomes possible again. The day clinic is another component of the existing psychosomatic services, which, in addition to inpatient care, include an outpatient clinic where initial diagnostic consultations and crisis intervention sessions are conducted.
Day clinic as a supplement to inpatient therapy
“With this new service, we want to reach patients who find it difficult to commit to inpatient therapy, whether due to anxiety or their personal circumstances. The service is also aimed at people who still need support after inpatient therapy, but who are already able to manage their daily lives well on their own in the evenings or on weekends,” says Dr. Dr. Peter Bagus, Head of the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine.
Everyday tasks and responsibilities can remain
From a therapeutic perspective, it is often also an advantage if those affected are not completely removed from their daily tasks and responsibilities. This can lead to faster stabilization – provided the illness is not too severe and coping with everyday life is no longer possible, says Bagus. He is pleased about the new service, which many patients have requested.
Strong demand at the adolescent ward
There's also good news at the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Like the Clinic for Psychosomatic Medicine, they also have a waiting list for treatment places. This is particularly true for the adolescent ward, a specialized unit for mentally ill young adults between the ages of 16 and 23. It has been in high demand in recent years. With the new, larger building in the middle of the park and more staff, the ward can now expand its services. Instead of nine treatment places, there will be 15 in the future. In addition, there are two day-clinic places for patients transitioning to outpatient treatment.
Possibility of comprehensive diagnostics
The adolescent ward treats a range of conditions, including affective disorders, anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorders, trauma-related disorders, and personality disorders. It also offers comprehensive diagnostic testing for suspected attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorders. "Often, such difficulties in social interaction and personality development hinder the transition to independence and adulthood," says Anett Schider, the head psychotherapist who manages the ward.
Providing individual support to young people
The adolescent ward was launched in 2021 as a collaborative project between the Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, the Department of Psychosomatic Medicine, and the Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry to provide more individualized support for young people. "Adolescents and young adults need a specialized setting that places significantly more emphasis on taking responsibility than child and adolescent psychiatry, while simultaneously offering more comprehensive educational programs than are possible in the adult setting," said Schider.
Educational and vocational preparation programs
The adolescent ward also offers vocational support services. Both the hospital school and occupational therapy are involved in this effort. In addition to academic content, practical vocational skills can be learned, and supervised external internships can be arranged. "However, a prerequisite for admission is that the adolescents are motivated for therapy and are willing to participate in the services voluntarily, as the ward operates on an open basis," says the psychologist. Both hospital teams hope that the new therapy options will allow them to provide even more individualized support to those affected. With the opening of the day clinic, the psychosomatic clinic is also taking another step towards outpatient care, thus setting the course for the future.
Source: Gesundheit Nord gGmbH/Klinikverbund Bremen, Press release , February 11, 2025