[Needs of clients cared for by community mental health nurses]

To assess needs for care rated by clients and their community mental health nurses and their agreement on needs.

47 randomly selected clients and their care professionals completed the Camberwell Assessment of Need.

Psychiatric nurses indicate a higher number of total and met need than their clients. Unmet need was rated most highly in the domains of psychological distress, company of others and intimate relationships. Professionals underrated their clients' needs in the areas physical health, information about condition and treatment and psychological distress and indicated a higher level of need than their clients in the domains of daily activities and psychological distress.

Care planning and care targeting should respond to the unmet needs of the clients in order to prevent care deficiencies. Differences in the evaluations indicate the importance to include client's viewpoints into the needs assessment.