Author Description

In recent years the practice of psychiatry has changed fundamentally. Mentally ill people have been moved out of the large institutions, with their clear structures and hierarchies, and into the community. This shift has required the development of new service structures, new facilities, new attitudes and new professional relationships. This book provides the first authoritative, international review of community psychiatry, taking into consideration theoretical as well as clinical issues. The key aim of the book is to review the status of community psychiatry throughout the developed world, presenting a comprehensive and critical exposition of the achievements, limitations and dilemmas in the theoretical base and the practical implementation of a community-based strategy. The book covers the available evidence base, gaps in that evidence base and describes, where possible, best practice for treatment and care. Current areas of theoretical and professional conflict are also covered. There are two main sections of the book; the first describes psychiatry for the community, in which the population needs for psychiatric care are considered. The second major section examines psychiatry in the community, describing how the service systems are designed to meet these needs. The final section of the book examines ethical issues and dilemmas. With 46 chapters from the leading international experts in the field, this book will be essential reading for all those working with the mentally ill in the 21st century.