[Social psychiatry and schizophrenia--changes and perspectives]

There will be an enormous change for general as well as social psychiatry in the next decade. With regard to schizophrenia it is apparent that only innovative research strategies and practical care together may be able to improve the clinical outcome of these disabled persons in the long term. Definitely, a modern social psychiatry does need a better understanding of different aspects of schizophrenia, which includes comprehensive knowledge about its ethiological genetic- and cognitive-based hypotheses as well as awareness of modern drug strategies and effective rehabilitation programs. Alike health economic aspects will reform social psychiatry as its own concepts have to prove their efficacy not only from a therapeutical view but also with respect to its short-, middle- and long-term cost effectiveness.