Do Partial Hospitalization Programs (PHP) Work for Depression and Anxiety? 

What a New Compass Health Center Study Published in the Behavior Therapist Journal Reveals 

For many adults living with depression or anxiety, weekly therapy alone isn’t always enough. Symptoms can linger, functioning can decline, and even motivated people can feel stuck despite their best efforts. 

A newly published Compass Health Center study in the Behavior Therapist Journal offers important insight into what can happen when people receive more structured, intensive, multi-disciplinary support. 

The research followed more than 800 adults who participated in a brief Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP) for mood and anxiety disorders. The results were clear: most participants experienced meaningful reductions in both depression and anxiety symptoms, often within just a few weeks. 

This article breaks down what the study found, what partial hospitalization actually looks like, and why this level of care can be a powerful option for people who need more than traditional outpatient therapy—without requiring inpatient hospitalization. 

What Is a Partial Hospitalization Program (PHP)? 

A Partial Hospitalization Program is a day-treatment level of care for people who need more support than outpatient therapy but do not require 24/7 inpatient hospitalization. 

Participants typically attend treatment five days a week, for several hours per day, while continuing to live at home. 

At Compass Health Center, the mood and anxiety PHP includes: 

• Group therapy including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) strategies and skills 
• Individual therapy sessions 
• Psychiatric care and medication management 
• Optional family or couples therapy 
• Structured daily programming 
• Safety monitoring and discharge planning 

PHPs are often recommended when: 

• Symptoms significantly interfere with daily functioning 
• Weekly therapy hasn’t led to meaningful improvement 
• Someone is stepping down from inpatient care 
• A person is nearing crisis but does not require hospitalization 

This level of care offers a balance between intensity and flexibility, providing daily structure while allowing people to remain connected to their lives outside of treatment. 

About the Clinical Study 

Who Participated? 

The study followed 819 adults admitted to a Compass Health Center mood and anxiety PHP between January 2024 and May 2025. 

• Average age: 38 
• Most common diagnoses: 
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) 
• Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) 
• Many participants had both anxiety and depression 
• Average length of treatment: 17–18 treatment days 

Participants entered treatment with: 

• Moderate anxiety symptoms 
• Moderately severe depressive symptoms 

What Treatment Did They Receive? 

The program emphasized evidence-based, skills-focused therapy, including: 

• Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Focuses on values, acceptance of difficult thoughts and feelings, and taking meaningful action. 
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Helps people identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. 
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills: Teaches emotional regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and interpersonal effectiveness. 

In addition to group therapy, participants received: 

• Individual therapy 
• Psychiatric support 
• Medication management 
• Family or couples sessions when appropriate 

This combination reflects how PHPs operate in real-world community settings, where care is integrated rather than limited to a single treatment modality. 

What Did the Study Measure? 

Two widely used clinical tools were used to track progress: 

GAD-7 (Anxiety Measure) 

Scores range from 0–21. Higher scores indicate more severe anxiety. 

• 0–4: Minimal 
• 5–9: Mild 
• 10–14: Moderate 
• 15–21: Severe 

PHQ-9 (Depression Measure) 

Scores range from 0–27. Higher scores indicate more severe depression. 

• 1–4: Minimal 
• 5–9: Mild 
• 10–14: Moderate 
• 15–19: Moderately severe 
• 20–27: Severe 

Participants completed both measures at admission and again near discharge. 

Key Findings: Significant Improvement in Just a Few Weeks 

Anxiety Outcomes 

• Average admission score: 13.6 (moderate anxiety) 
• Average discharge score: 7.9 (mild anxiety) 

This represents a large, statistically significant reduction in anxiety symptoms. 

Depression Outcomes 

• Average admission score: 15.8 (moderately severe depression) 
• Average discharge score: 8.9 (mild depression) 

Again, a large, statistically significant reduction. 

In practical terms, many participants moved from the moderate or moderately severe range into the mild range for both anxiety and depression within about three weeks of structured care. 

The size of these changes was considered “large” in research terms, meaning the improvements were not only statistically meaningful but also clinically meaningful. 

What Influenced Outcomes? 

The researchers also examined which factors predicted symptom levels at discharge. 

Baseline Severity 

People who entered treatment with more severe symptoms tended to leave with somewhat higher scores, despite still improving significantly. This suggests that PHP benefits people across severity levels, while also highlighting the importance of continued care for those with more intense symptoms. 

Diagnosis Type 

Whether someone’s primary diagnosis was anxiety or depression did not strongly predict outcomes after accounting for symptom severity. This suggests the program effectively addresses shared emotional processes such as avoidance, emotional dysregulation, and negative thinking patterns. 

Why Intensive Care Can Make a Difference 

Weekly therapy can be helpful, but for many people, it’s not enough when: 

• Symptoms interfere with work, school, or relationships 
• Motivation feels depleted 
• Avoidance is high 
• Emotional overwhelm is constant 
• Safety concerns are emerging 

PHP offers: 

• Daily momentum 
• Repeated skill practice 
• Real-time support 
• Structure and accountability 
• Integrated psychiatric care 

Research shows that a higher “dose” of treatment often leads to faster and more meaningful change. This study supports that idea, showing that concentrated care can help people stabilize and regain functioning in a relatively short period of time. 

What Partial Hospitalization Looks Like Day to Day 

For patients and families, PHP is not just about symptom scores. It’s about daily life. 

Participants typically experience: 

• Morning check-ins and goal setting 
• Skills groups focused on real-world challenges 
• Support navigating stress, relationships, and routines 
• Psychiatric appointments for medication evaluation 
• Individual therapy to apply skills to personal goals 
• Discharge planning for continued care 

Importantly, people return home each evening. This allows them to stay connected to their families, responsibilities, and routines while still receiving intensive support. 

Who Is PHP a Good Fit For? 

Partial hospitalization may be appropriate for adults who: 

• Feel “stuck” in outpatient therapy 
• Are experiencing worsening symptoms 
• Need daily structure to regain functioning 
• Are stepping down from inpatient care 
• Want to avoid hospitalization 
• Need rapid symptom stabilization 

At Compass Health Center, thorough screenings help ensure each person is matched to the level of care that best fits their needs. 

What This Means for Clinicians 

This study provides encouraging data for providers: 

• PHP can produce large symptom reductions 
• Outcomes are strong across diagnoses 
• Brief, intensive care is effective in community settings 
• Integrated, skills-based approaches work 

It also reinforces the importance of offering stepped levels of care. When weekly therapy isn’t enough, PHP can serve as a clinically sound next step without requiring hospitalization. 

What This Means for Patients and Families 

If you or someone you love is struggling with depression or anxiety, this study offers a hopeful message: 

Meaningful change is possible, even when symptoms feel overwhelming. 

PHP does not mean “things have failed.” 
It does not require hospitalization. 
It simply means more support is available when you need it. 

Many participants entered care feeling exhausted, stuck, and unsure how to move forward. Within weeks, they reported significantly lower symptoms and improved functioning. 

That shift can create space for: 

• Returning to work or school 
• Rebuilding routines 
• Strengthening relationships 
• Re-engaging with daily life 

What the Study Can’t Tell Us Yet 

Like all research, this study has limitations: 

• Outcomes were self-reported 
• The study did not isolate which treatment components mattered most 
• Long-term follow-up data was not included 

Future research will explore how long improvements last, which elements of PHP drive the most change, and how to optimize length of stay. Even with these limitations, the findings strongly support PHP as an effective level of care for adults with mood and anxiety disorders. 

The Bigger Picture: Support for the “In-Between” 

Many people have needs that fall into the space between weekly therapy and full hospitalization. Partial hospitalization fills that gap. 

This study adds to growing evidence that intermediate levels of care can help people stabilize, build skills, and move forward, without disrupting their lives or requiring inpatient admission. 

With the right support, people can move from moderate or severe symptoms into a more manageable place, often in just a few weeks. 

That shift matters. 
It changes what’s possible.