Assistenza psichiatrica e monitoraggio dei servizi. Il Registro dei casi di Portogruaro 1987-1990

The principles, structure, Psychiatric Case Register (PCR) and catchment-area of the Community Psychiatric Service of Portogruaro are described, using the same methodology employed in 4 other Italian PCRs. The monitoring of the demand over 4 years shows one-year prevalence rates (1045/100000 adult inhabitants), one-day prevalence rates (332/100000 adult inhabitants) and incidence rates (250/100000 adult inhabitants) lower than those of other european PCRs. Portogruaro PCR records data of the activities made in a comprehensive psychiatric service, which has multiple structures and services, offering different degrees of care: residential in and outside the hospital, semiresidential, in outpatient clinics, domiciliary, etc. The 1990 ratio between non-hospitalized and hospitalized users is 5.5 to 1. The rate of long-term patients is 161/100000 adult inhabitants. The costs of the Community Psychiatric Service slightly decreased during 1987-90 period.