Initiation of primary psychiatric care in Transkei.
A psychiatric service had to be set up from scratch for a population of about 3 million people in Transkei when it became independent. This unusual requirement taught us certain lessons concerning the early diagnosis, management and after-care of patients admitted to Umzimkulu Hospital. Special mention is made of the alcohol-related mental disorders, depressive disorders and those associated with headache and convulsive seizures which were encountered, and the management and prevention thereof are commented upon.
D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy; D003863:Depression / Q000188:drug therapy; D006261:Headache / Q000188:drug therapy; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011613:Psychotherapy; D012949:Social Work, Psychiatric; D013019:South Africa