Abstract: The adaptation challenges faced by newly hospitalized patients with mental disorders manifest primarily in three domains: “the psychological predicament within closed ward”, “negative perception of hospitalization” and “social withdrawal”. Adopting the mixed method through qualitative interviews and quantitative scale analyses conducted with group participants, this study identifies five core areas of needs, encompassing emotional management, disease awareness, self-awareness, social interaction, and hospital adaptation. Grounded in cognitive-behavioral theory, a series of six structured group interventions have been developed to address these identified issues and needs among newly hospitalized patients with mental disorders. The evaluation shows that these group interventions have significantly improved the adaptive processes of the newly hospitalized patients with mental disorders, thereby offering valuable insights and practical guidance for facilitating improved adaptation experiences. However, group intervention services reveal inherent limitations in four areas: “the coverage of service user”, “the professional competence of the social workers”, “the theoretical framework adopted”, and “the integration of follow-up service”. These limitations warrant further professional reflection and enhancement for effective implementation.

Key words: newly hospitalized patients with mental disorders, hospitalization adaptation, intervention of group work