The transition from mental hospital based to community based psychiatry.
The reformation of psychiatry has been a central topic in health planning and care in most industrialized countries during the last decades. A short review of the political, professional and other forces behind this development is done. A short history of the development in Sweden is given as an example of the general tendencies in this change and the actors involved. There is now a rapidly growing scientific basis for the psychiatric service with a definite shift into a community based orientation. It is concluded that early intervention and prevention will be in focus for the development during the next decades.
Jacobsson
L
L
Department of Clinical Science, Umea University, Sweden.
D003156:Community Mental Health Services; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D013548:Sweden