Naslov
Changes in the provision of institutionalized mental health care in post-communist countries

Autori
Mundt, Adrian P. ; Frančišković, Tanja ; Gurovich, Isaac ; Heinz, Andreas ; Ignatyev, Yuriy ; Ismayilov, Fouad ; Kalapos, MiklosPeter ; Krasnov, Valery ; Mihai, Adriana ; Mir1, Jan ; Padruchny, Dzianis ; Potocan, Matej ; Raboch, Jiri ; Taube, Maris ; Welbel, Marta ; Priebe, Stefan

Izvornik
PLoS ONE (1932-6203) 7 (2012), 6; 1-6

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, članak, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
institutionalized care; psychiatric beds; prison population rates; Eastern Europe; post-Soviet; post-communist

Sažetak
Numbers of general psychiatric and forensic psychiatric beds, supported housing capacities and the size of the prison population have been suggested as indicators of institutionalized mental health care. According to the Penrose hypothesis, decreasing psychiatric bed numbers may lead to an increase of the prison population. The study aimed to assess indicators of institutionalized mental health care in post-communist countries during the two decades following the political change of the year 1989, and to explore whether the data are consistent with the Penrose hypothesis in that historical context. Data on general psychiatric and forensic psychiatric bed numbers, supported housing capacities and the prison population were collected in Azerbaijan, Belarus, Croatia, Czech Republic, East Germany, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Poland, Romania, Russia and Slovenia. Percentage change of indicators over the decades 1989-1999, 1999-2009 and the whole period of 1989-2009 and correlations between changes of different indicators were calculated. Results Between 1989 and 2009, the number of general psychiatric beds was reduced in all countries. The decrease ranged from -11% in Croatia to -51% in East Germany, and led to bed numbers per 100, 000 population that ranged from 44.7 in Azerbaijan to 134.4 in Latvia. Forensic psychiatric bed numbers and supported housing capacities increased in most countries. From 1989-2009, trends in the prison population were inconsistent and ranged from a decrease of -58% in East Germany to an increase of 43% in Belarus and Poland. Trends over time in different indicators of institutionalised care did not show statistically significant associations. Discussion After the political changes in 1989, post-communist countries experienced a substantial reduction in general psychiatric hospital beds, which in some countries may have partly been compensated by an increase in supported housing capacities and more forensic psychiatric beds. Changes in the prison population are inconsistent. The findings do not support the Penrose hypothesis in the given historical context as a general rule for most of the countries. More accurate data and wider research are required for a better understanding of historical trends in institutionalised care and their drivers.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Kliničke medicinske znanosti

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