Developing Services for Schizophrenia in Croatia, Slovenia, and Bosnia

Abstract

Along the coast of the Adriatic, several small projects have developed to improve treatment of patients with Schizophrenia. All these projects have benefited from links with the Department of Psychiatry in Cambridge.

In Ljubljana, The Ljubljana Prodrome Project has developed a system of early intervention and treatment which has a strong research arm. It has contributed knowledge about how psychosis develops, and shown that treatment in the prodromal phase of illness gives patients significant advantages.

The Assertive Outreach Team in Ljubljana Psychiatric Hospital has reduced readmissions for the chronic patients it deals with. Case Management in the Community has also been established at Vrapce Hospital Zagreb, where there has also been established a ward for first episodes of Psychosis. Non Governmental Organisations have been working with patients and their families in Central Croatia, using group interventions for carers.

In Sarajevo, one doctor is working with identifying psychosis early.

All of these projects are successful and amount to a major contribution in improving treatment for schizophrenia for patients in these countries.

Staff from Croatia and Slovenia have visited the UK to learn Early Detection and Intervention techniques and case management.

Further development nationally of these techniques for delivery of Mental Health Care in the Community is now awaited.