[Psychiatric services in the USSR and their various indicators]

The development of psychiatry in the USSR is reviewed bearing in mind the dynamics of the main characteristics of mental patients registered at the psychoneurological dispensaries (PND). In 1965, 2188.5 thousand patients were on the books at the PND in this country, whereas in 1987, their number rose to 10201.3 thousand. Therefore, during 22 years the number of mental patients increased 4.7-fold. The greatest increase is recorded among patients suffering from schizophrenia and psychopathy. This tendency is characteristic of all the republics. At the same time the disability rate among schizophrenic patients dropped (possibly at the expense of a more favorable course of this pathology). The authors point out that this country ranks ninth in the world in the number of psychiatrists per 1000 population. As far as the number of beds for mental patients is concerned, it occupies the 23d place. From 1985 to 1988, the load of the dispensary psychiatrist reduced from 565 to 520 patients, i.e. it diminished by 8%. On the whole the psychiatric services render assistance to 4% of the population of this country today.