ARCHITECTURAL AND PLANNING STRATEGIES FOR POST-TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER (PTSD)-SENSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH CENTERS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.32782/2415-8151.2026.40.14Keywords:
mental health center, PTSD- sensitive environment, healthcare architecture, functional zoning, circulation structure, evidence-based design, therapeutic environmentAbstract
Purpose. The purpose of this study is to identify relationships between architectural and planning organization of mental health centers and therapeutic conditions for individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The research focuses on spatial characteristics of healthcare facilities that influence perception of safety, predictability of environment, regulation of social interaction, and reduction of sensory stressors. Particular attention is given to functional zoning structure, spatial hierarchy, and circulation logic as factors contributing to formation of therapeutic environments adapted to users with increased sensitivity to environmental stimuli. Methodology. The research methodology combines architectural and typological analysis of healthcare facilities with expert surveys involving professionals working in the field of mental healthcare. Spatial organization of buildings was analyzed in terms of relationships between functional zones, depth of spatial hierarchy, and structure of circulation routes. Qualitative characteristics of spatial configuration were translated into a system of architectural and planning indices enabling comparative evaluation of planning solutions. The proposed analytical framework allows interpretation of architectural planning structure as a spatial system influencing environmental perception and behavioral patterns of users. Results. The results of the study demonstrate that spatial configurations characterized by coherent functional zoning, reduced number of incompatible adjacencies, and presence of alternative circulation routes provide more stable therapeutic conditions. Clustered and hybrid planning schemes demonstrate advantages in formation of environments with improved spatial legibility and clearer differentiation between public and private zones. Increased depth of spatial hierarchy contributes to formation of predictable spatial sequences, supporting emotional regulation and reducing environmental stress. Loop-based circulation systems allow greater flexibility of movement and reduce frequency of forced encounters between users. Scientific novelty. The study proposes a system of architectural and planning indices including Conflict Adjacency Index (CAI), Privacy Depth Index (PDI), Circulation Loop Presence (CLP), and Vertical Hierarchy Index (VHI). These indices allow translation of qualitative spatial characteristics into structured analytical parameters and enable reproducible evaluation of spatial configurations of mental health centers. Practical relevance. The obtained results may be applied in architectural design of mental health facilities and in development of typological models supporting therapeutic environments. The proposed methodological approach may be used in post-war reconstruction of mental healthcare infrastructure and contributes to improvement of architectural decision-making processes oriented toward psychological well-being of users.
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