Perspectives of psychiatric care in Leipzig - Deinstitutionalisation from the viewpoint of an office-based neurologist and psychiatrist of psychiatric care

Two perspectives of mental health care in Leipzig are outlined. Critical aspects of deinstitutionalisation are discussed from the point of view of an office-based Nervenarzt (neurologist and psychiatrist), The limitations of office-based practice in providing care for the severely mentally ill (SM1) are described, i.e. lack of a multidisciplinary community mental health team, community psychiatric nursing and social work back-up in particular. Residential service and nursing homes are often under-staffed and ill-prepared for caring for people with SMI. A second view-point describes the Verbund Gemeindenahe Psychiatrie, a community psychiatric service for the just under 500.000 population of Leipzig in seven community mental health centers each combining day hospital, out-patient clinics and multidisciplinary community psychiatric care. This service is unique in Saxony and well accepted by service users and professionals.