Which institutional setting largely replaced asylums in caring for the mentally ill during the era of contemporary psychology?

• A. Community mental health centers
• B. General hospitals
• C. Correctional facilities
• D. Private residential schools

Answer: (A)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Understand the historical context of mental health care: Asylums were the primary institutions for mentally ill patients in the 19th and early 20th centuries, but changes in treatment philosophy and policy led to their decline.
2. Recognize the movement toward deinstitutionalization in the mid-20th century, which aimed to reduce reliance on large, isolated asylums and instead provide care in less restrictive, more integrated settings.
3. Identify the types of institutions that emerged to replace asylums, focusing on those designed to offer mental health services within the community rather than in isolated facilities.
4. Evaluate the options given: General hospitals, correctional facilities, private residential schools, and community mental health centers, considering which are specifically designed for mental health care.
5. Conclude that community mental health centers largely replaced asylums by providing accessible, outpatient, and community-based mental health services, aligning with contemporary psychological care approaches.