[Psychiatric management of mentally handicapped patients. A systemic model]

The care for mentally handicapped subjects in a geographically, linguistically and socioculturally well defined region of Switzerland (the region "Oberwallis") is described. The care and the treatment are following a systemic model. The mentally handicapped live outside the psychiatric hospital in social integrated housing and working structures, which are established by an autonomous organized association. There exists a close cooperation between this association and the psychiatric hospital, which is integrated in a general hospital. Both institutions, the common theoretical basis and forms of cooperation are described.