Values and technology assessment in psychiatry

Economic resources for health care are limited and they should be distribut ed as fairly and effectively as possible. But the basis for such a distribu tion is far from clear. What interests are involved? What kind of provision of care is most efficient? How far should the distribution be left to mark et solutions? What is the proper role of health care politicians and author ities? In technology assessment a promising combination of value premises a nd empirical knowledge is used in answering such questions. The aim of this introductory article is to explore issues related to values and value conf licts that have implications for technology assessment. Ethical principles are discussed and related to problematic issues in mental health care such as the absence of psychiatry, the abuse of psychiatry, the definition of me ntal illness, diagnostic activities, treatment decisions, priority setting as well as research and development.