Previously many patients spent weary years in long-stay care-the mental asylums. They became institutionalized. There was no effective therapy and they were simply looked after in a simple routine, the worst of their symptoms often "burned out’ but by that time they had lost all contact with family, friends ,work etc.

Now many more patients can be cared for in the community after discharge from hospital. They may never need hospital admission or attend day hospital as part of therapy. Community care is expensive in the professional time and effort to look after patients in a social setting rather than an institution. There are more demands upon friends, family and social services but the results are much better. Long term medication, supervised therapy and intense rehabilitation all play their part.

Medication:Anti-depressants, anti-psychotics, anxiolytics, mood stabilizers

Electro-convulsive therapy (ECT)

Psychotherapy-individual and group, Psychoanalysis