An historical review of the mental health services in the People's Republic of China.
BACKGROUND
This paper is an attempt to describe the historical development of the mental health services in the PRC.


METHODS
An archive of related literature.


RESULTS
The development of the mental health services in the PRC could be divided into several stages: the introduction of mental asylums by western missionaries before 1949; indigenization of the treatment model after the establishment of the PRC (1949-1963). Strong political control governed diagnosis and treatment as well as detention and discharge of mental patients during the Cultural Revolution (1964-1976). Later, because of modernization and reform advocated by Deng Xiao-ping, western models of treatment and rehabilitation were gradually introduced by psychiatrists in the PRC. Nevertheless, dilemmas such as human rights versus political control, community integration versus community control, diversity versus centrality, huge demand but inadequate services seemed to challenge the further development of the mental health service in the PRC.
Yip
Kam-Shing
KS
Department of Applied Social Studies, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon. ssksyip@polyu.edu.hk
D002681:China; D003148:Communism; D018166:Health Care Reform; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric / Q000266:history / Q000458:organization & administration; D006806:Human Rights; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011057:Politics