title: Aims, outcome measures, study sites and patient sample. EPSILON Study 1. European Psychiatric Services: Inputs Linked to Outcome Domains and Needs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cross-national research into the care of people with severe mental illnesses is hampered by a lack of standardised measures. The European Psychiatric Services: Inputs Linked to Outcome Domains and Needs (EPSILON) Study is a European Union funded project within the BIOMED-2 programme. The project aims to develop standardised instruments to facilitate future cross-national research.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To describe the aims, outcome measures, study sites and patient samples of the EPSILON Study.
  See companion papers in this supplement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, University of Leipzig, Germany.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Becker
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Knapp
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Knudsen
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Schene
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tansella
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thornicroft
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Barquero
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D020380:Needs Assessment; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D011788:Quality of Life; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*