[Acceptance of community psychiatry reform in the population. Results of a representative study in new German federal lands].

In 1993, a representative survey on the acceptance of community psychiatric services was conducted in the New German Länder. Its results show that the prospect of a hostel or group home for psychiatric patients to be established in their neighbourhood led to a predominantly negative reaction. On the other hand, the announcement that a day centre or a sheltered workshop should be opened was met with a more positive response. Only one quarter of those questioned supported the establishment of psychiatric units at general hospitals. Hence the acceptance of community psychiatric services in the east was clearly lower that in the western part of Germany. There was a clear association between the acceptance of community psychiatry and the general attitude towards the mentally ill. When respondents had personal experience with mental disorder, they were more open-minded as regards the establishment of complementary psychiatric services.