At the WHO International Conference 'Changing Mental Health Care in the Cities of Europe' an invitational workshop was organised for participants interested in evaluation research. This report of the workshop first summarises the activities of the Commission of European Communities working on the 'Evaluation of Comprehensive Care of the Mentally Ill'. Secondly current issues which arose in the discussions on problems of scientific evaluation of changing mental health care in Europe are described. Thirdly three particular research programmes are summarised especially focussing on research methodology.