The pros and cons of community psychiatric care : review from the British experience

Abstract EN

Since the 1950s, community care has been a Government health policy in Britain.

The overall aim of this policy was to enable the mentally ill to be treated in the community near where they live.

This aims to preserve their social and occupational skills and keep them in touch with their social network of friends and relatives.

In spite of these humanitarian aims, community care is facing more and more criticism from psychiatrists and researchers in the field.

This paper aims to introduce a balanced argument about the research evidence for and against the wider implementation of community care policies.

This is written with the implications for the mental health services in the Arab World in mind.