[The Community Psychiatry Organization in Baden-Württemberg]

While as a result of the report of the German Federal Government's Inquiry Commission a nationwide programme for further development of the provision of care to the mentally ill was launched, Baden-Wuerttemberg went it's own ways with its "Programme for the Development of Outpatient Psychiatric Care 1982-1986". In 1994 Baden-Wuerttemberg's concept of a "Communal Psychiatric Combine" ("Gemeindepsychiatrischer Verbund", GPV) was worked out; this concept increases in some respects the existing differences from other states. Apart from an improvement in coordination and cooperation, the GPV is intended to secure comprehensive local care provision for the chronically mentally ill. Furthermore, care provision appropriate to requirements should be made possible and quality assurance realised on all levels. In the following, Baden-Wuerttemberg's understanding of a "Communal Psychiatric Combine" is contrasted with the combine concept of the expert commission. The potential effects of the reginal care situation as well as the chances of implementation are discussed with reference to earlier experiences.