Background: There has been almost no research into mental health services in Eastern Europe. A pathways study is a quick and useful starting point, requiring few resources.
Aims: To improve understanding of prior care-seeking and treatment of new patients seen at mental health services.
Method: Pathways diagrams were drawn showing the routes of care-seeking for 50 new patients in eight centres. Patterns of care-seeking, durations and previous treatments were compared for ICD-10 diagnostic groups.
Results: The diagnoses varied according to the organisation of services. Major pathways included general practitioners, direct access and hospital doctors. General practitioners have a limited role as 'gatekeeper' in centres in Albania, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Serbia-Montenegro, and rarely prescribed treatment, except sedatives, for mental disorders.
Conclusions: Findings highlight areas that require attention if aspirations for community-oriented mental health care are to be realised, particularly integration of mental health into primary care.