Changing patterns of mental health care in Greece (1984-1996)

Greece joined the European Community in 1981 and, three years later, the Co mmission of the European Communities provided financial and technical assis tance under EEC Regulation 815/84 for the modernisation of the traditional psychiatric care system, with the emphasis on decentralisation of mental he alth services and the development of community-based services, as well as o n deinstutionalization of long-stay patients and improvement of conditions in public mental hospitals. Over the last 11 years, the implementation of t he EEG Reg. 815/84 programme contributed to a significant shift towards ext ramural care and rehabilitation. The role of the large mental hospitals has gradually been diminished and a large number of long-stay patients have be en deinstitutionalised. It is commonly accepted that the EEC-funded psychia tric reform programme, despite inadequacies and constraints, had an impact on the changing mental health scene in Greece. (C) 1999 Editions scientifiq ues et medicales Elsevier SAS.