The dilemmas of chronicity: the transition of care policies from the authoritarian state to the welfare state in Spain.

In this article, the constitution of the population of chronic mental patients is examined for the period 1885 to 1975 as well as its influence on the design of reform programmes in the crisis of the Franco-ist state. Then follows an assessment of state reforms and regional policies with effect from 1980. Reference is made to the theoretical models utilised in this last period and to the tension and contradictions between professionals of bio-medical orientation and sectors sympathetic to community models sustained from the perspective of social psychiatry.