[Follow up of a schizophrenic patient in general practice]

GEOGRAPHIC SECTORS: In France, the public psychiatric health care system is divided into geographic sectors. Each sector is attributed to a psychiatric team and health care institutions. Each psychiatric unit in public hospitals is responsible for a given sector. LEGAL FRAMEWORK: The legal framework for sectorialization was established in 1960 and has been completed by various administrative and legislative regulations which define the missions of the sector and application modalities. RESOURCE ALLOCATION: Changing attitudes in psychiatric care, therapeutic techniques and economic goals have had an effect on the notion of sectorialization. Current policies tend towards the development of intersector exchange to make better use of available resources and better meet the objectives of the public health care system.