O.P.D

• Specialist psychiatric outpatient services have a priority of  mental health care. 
• Psychiatric hospitals - at all of which outpatient clinics are held can be considered community based as they are all located ‘in the community’.
• However,  outpatient clinics lack multidisciplinary input.

There may also be a current trend towards specialized clinics for  patients, e.g. 

1. People with affective disorders 
2. Mentally disordered offenders 
3. Young adults 
4. New mothers
5. Patients with neuroses and eating disorders.

• Outpatient care continues to be a service element meeting important clinical needs in a large number of people with mental disorders.