[Sociopsychological services in the Federal Republic of Germany--a survey].

Almost everywhere in the Federal Republic of Germany, multiprofessionally staffed teams for the care of psychiatric patients who are severely and chronically ill have started operating, in most cases under the designation "Sociopsychiatric Services". The focal point of care is the social rehabilitation of psychiatric patients who are chronically ill or disabled. The expert staff of these teams is accordingly mainly made up of social workers. The proportionate share of medical officers in these teams varies considerably. In the majority of cases the teams are attached to the Public Health services, as far as the organisation is concerned. Independent service teams have been created additionally in those German districts where Public Health services are being run by the government, with the exception of Rhineland-Palatinate. Update development in outpatient sociopsychiatric care is directed at giving more emphasis to regional interests than previously in respect of planning and organisation of sociopsychiatric services.