ABSTRACT
In the light of governmental policy in European countries to enhance and reinforce community psychiatric services, the need to introduce a more systematic approach in the treatment of chronic psychiatric patients by the community psychiatric services is currently being stressed. In this paper the problem analysis (P.A.) is described. It is a practical, treatment-oriented instrument which methodically compiles information on chronic patients and their systems. The systematic acquisition and examination of such information provide clues to a rational rehabilitation plan, one that can be carried out by a multidisciplinary community psychiatric service. Such an approach has the added advantage of making education and research in the field feasible.
