[Voting behaviour of the chronic mentally ill].

OBJECTIVE

Voting behaviour of chronic mentally ill patients should demonstrate that this group may act as a political interest group.

METHODS

Residents of therapeutic facilities for mentally ill patients were questioned on their voting behaviour after the Federal Election to the Bundestag in 1994, 1998 and 2002.

RESULTS

There was a stable preference for the parties from the "left wing", more than (2/3) of the study population voted for the Social Democrats or the Green party. It was important for 17.2 % of the clients that a party puts emphasis on the interests of the mentally ill.

CONCLUSIONS

Chronic mentally ill patients show a different voting behaviour than the general population. Their voting decision is partially related to their specific interests, which could give them a lobby-like status. This should be taken into consideration in the future development and planning of mental health care systems.