Since the second half of this century the psychiatric hospitals (in the Netherlands) are populated in increasing numbers with individuals who, more or less and to a certain extent are the victims of the unstable times in which we live. It is questioned whether the policy and the therapeutic possibilities of these hospitals are sufficiently flexible to adapt themselves to the needs of resocialization that are required by the afore mentioned group of 'patients'. A plea is presented for

• a multi-disciplinary management in which verbal and communicative elements occupy a central place and
• for policlinical possibilities in order
• to avoid a hospitalization as much as possible or to shorten this.

The attention of the extramural, ambulatory social psychiatric services should be directed to psycho-social situations, more than to individuals (de Smit).