Treatment Options in PolandRafał Żukowski

Association „Integration”,Warsaw, Poland

Gamian Regional Seminar, Bucharest, 23th May, 2009

The treatment options

Psychiatric hospitals Care and cure facilities Home treatment NGOs supporting patients

Option 1 – Psychiatric hospitals

Meant to mainly treat the patients with the most acute disorders (e.g. severe psychotic symptoms, strong depression, etc.)

Provide constant care, application of the appropriate medicines and 24-hours doctors' supervision

Maximum treatment time 3-6 months, usually treatment is finished once the patient gets better

Option 2 – Care and cure facilities

Meant to treat the patients, who have been to a psychiatric hospital but did not manage to recover even during long-time treatment (over 6 months)

Equipped to serve the patients for long periods of time, trying to replace their home environment

Provide constant medical care and doctors' supervision

Option 3 – Home treatment

Applied to patients, whose most acute symptoms have disappeared and who do not endanger their own or others' life and health

Usually applied to patients, who are able to take care of themselves and can live their lives without an external help

Supplement to the treatment – patients' support associations

These are usually NGOs, which are run by the patients' families members and try to improve the patients' lives

Provide the facilities to help patients spend their free time in a valuable way

Organise rehabilitation trips during holidays Promote healthy living styles and standards

Summary

In Poland there are many existing options to fit every patients' health conditions and preferences

Every patient is free to select the preferable options apart from the patients who have to be treated due to acute disorders

Thank you !