This volume deals with theoretical, methodical and empirical aspects of the management of chronic psychotic patients. The possibilities for assessing this specific task of mental health care in terms of cost and effectiveness are examined. For this purpose the authors refer to social and economic implications of de-institutionalization, procedures for estimating the costs of treatment, public and private costs of selected treatment strategies and time-budget analyses of chronic psychotic patients. The contributions are interdisciplinary as well as international and will be of value to public health organisations, politicians and researchers alike.