중동부유럽

This position paper describes the structural elements of the Polish mental healthcare system, with consideration of both historical and contemporary contexts. The historical context has had a significant impact on the evolution of mental healthcare and treatment of alcohol and substance use disorders (AUD and SUD) in Poland, resulting in notable distinctions between the two systems. Those are evident in the distinct legal foundations, therapeutic traditions (medical vs. psychosocial), dominant professional groups (psychiatrists vs. specialised AUD/SUD psychotherapists), roles of non-governmental organisations and self-help groups (more prominent in AUD/SUD services), as well as the range of services offered. It is not merely an organisational issue; the separation of the two systems has a more profound effect on the actual services available to patients, including those with dual diagnoses (i.e. mental disorders comorbid with AUD/SUD). It is therefore imperative that mental healthcare and AUD/SUD services collaborate and work together as part of a wider network comprising a well-coordinated variety of different services. Possible advantages and disadvantages of dual systems are discussed, along with recommendations for policy and research.