[Psychiatric patients treated in a district of Bavaria]

Following a WHO study, the psychiatric care of a district in Bavaria was surveyed. At first the various institutions, psychiatrists in practice and psychiatric hospitals, were analysed as to their patients, then all psychiatric patients receiving treatment were referred to a region of 442 000 inhabitants. The incidence rate amounted to 0,4% the prevalence rate to 0,9% relative to a period of six months. We estimated a yearly incidence rate of 0,8% and a yearly prevalence rate of 1,5% relative to all age-groups. In our study psychiatric patients were described according to different variables, particularly of diagnostic classification. --The last part of the study contains some proposals of improving the psychiatric care in the area referred to.