Mental health problems at secondary and tertiary levels

Abstract

Background: In Slovenia treatment and care for persons with mental disorder is organized like other clinical specialties, at three levels. The secondary level represents outpatient psychiatric care and hospital treatment. Psychiatric intensive care units work under specific conditions and are under court surveillance. Not only clinical treatment but also psycho-social care is important for persons with a mental disorder and is provided through co-working with primary care and centers for social work. Specificity of patients, especially those with severe and chronic mental disorder has enhanced the development of community based psychiatric settings. Specific difficulties in tertiary psychiatric institutions are also present, especially in fulfilling their educational and research roles. It is often very difficult to obtain an informed consent for participating in educational activities or research. Therefore students may not be able to encounter patients with some interesting clinical courses or rare disorders. Conclusions: In psychiatry the organizational, clinical, educational, legal and financial problems differ from other medical fields due to specific nature of mental disorders. In his every day clinical practice psychiatrist is obliged to follow ethical standards as well as legislation.