[Shared care in treatment of severe mental disorders]

This paper examines recent literature addressing shared care schemes between the primary and the secondary sectors and integrated co-operation arrangements between hospitals and out-patient psychiatry services. The results from shared care interventions in connection with treatment of severe mental disorders are not unanimous. While psychiatric service does improve, the benefit for the patients is moderate. The implementation of shared care for patient groups should comprise primary as well as secondary health care and include the hospital- as well as the out-patient sector.