On the present state of psychiatry in the Ukraine - the example of the psychiatric clinics in Kiev and Shitomir

The situation of psychiatric patients in the Ukraine is determined by the f inancial and economic difficulties of this country. In the larger cities, s o-called polyclinics take care of ambulant psychiatric patients. However, n o other social psychiatric institutions exist. Here, the modalities of hosp ital psychiatric treatment are discussed using the psychiatric hospitals in Kiev and Shitomir as examples. Undertreatment is also a problem, because o nly a few psychopharmacological drugs are produced in the Ukraine. Import o f new psychopharmacological agents is hampered by economical problems. Impr oving the availability of psychopharmacological drugs and the establishment of a social psychiatric network are major aims for psychiatrists working i n Ukraine.