Chinese Psychiatry

Abstract

The historical and ideological changes in Chinese psychiatry and their mental health organization as it is today after the Cultural Revolution are examined. According to some epidemiological studies the mortality in schizophrenia seems to be quite low in China in comparison to the West. We emphasize the relationships of sickness and society and societal reactions toward mentally ill people. In China, the need for hospital beds for the mentally ill seems to be very low. Treatment consists of psychopharmacological and various group therapeutic techniques with political texts and, now, acupuncture as well. The organization of patients themselves in groups is of import. The therapeutic processes are directed to the conscious levels of personality.