Mental Healthcare Delivery in Contemporary Russia : Past and Present. A Qualitative Analysis of Policy Documents and Professional Journals

This paper examines the effects of reforms in Russian mental health care (MHC) delivery since 1991, namely how it has developed; how priorities, targets and means of delivery have changed; which problems were considered the main ones; and how ongoing changes have affected the system of delivery. An analysis of policy documents and of psychiatric journals was used in conducting this research and also in understanding any changes that had occurred. The results indicate that some transformations in MHC organization took place, while others, mainly regarding patient related issues, were still being neglected by policy makers