Comprehensive mental health services: who needs them?

In 1980 the agency "Psychosocial Services" was founded in Vienna, Austria to set up and to operate comprehensive outpatient services, with responsibility to the total population of the city of 1.53 millions. Vienna has been divided into eight catchment areas. 11.076 patients have been in contact with the eight outpatient departments until the end of 1984 (0.72% of the total population). Data show high numbers of alcoholic, neurotic and schizophrenic patients. Number of patients indicates a need of some minimum equipment of the city with regionalized outpatient services. 50% of all the patients have never been under inpatient precare when they contact the outpatient departments.