[Differentiated forms of intensive psychiatric care]

The author describes problems of psychiatric intensive care and its contemporary structure in the catchment area of the psychiatric sanatorium in Opava. He describes the psychiatric first aid service organized in the field and its possibilities, incl. short--term hospital admissions of several hours at the anti--alcoholic station. This is followed by psychiatric in--patient care organized with regard to nosological aspects in a three--bed ward for psychotic women, a three--bed ward for psychotic men and a six--bed ward for psychotic male alcoholics. The author discusses the special features of these wards, demands laid on the qualification of doctors and nurses in these wards and the favourable acceptance of this type of work. The author points to the improved care of patients, the substantial reduction of special events, suicidal attempts, threatening of the attending staff, reduction of the period of treatment and favourable acceptance by the public.