title: [Architecture and design of mental health institutions].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The physical environment of mental health institutions is regarded as a therapeutic agent within the treatment. There is only little scientific evidence on the consequences of architecture and design on psychiatric patients available.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review was conducted on studies from adult mental health institutions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  25 studies were included into the review. Pre-post-studies and control group conditions were predominant study designs. Randomized controlled trials were not available. Interventions reached from art installations up to entire ward renovations. Outcome indicators were rather heterogeneous, including psychopathology, behavioural observations and aggression incidents. Overwhelmingly, the studies revealed positive results of interventions into the physical environment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found positive outcomes independent from the intervention in detail. This result should be interpreted in the light of the generally low study quality and further methodological problems.
authors.affiliation: Fachbereich Gesundheit, Berner Fachhochschule.
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.affiliation: Universitäre Psychiatrische Dienste Bern.
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000374:Aggression / Q000523:psychology; D001108:Architecture; D018849:Controlled Clinical Trials as Topic; D005858:Germany; D006749:Hospital Design and Construction; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011599:Psychopathology; D012919:Social Behavior; D012931:Social Environment