ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the experiences and findings over the past two decades in the Clinic of Psychiatry in Turku, which led to the treatment orientation called need-adapted treatment of schizophrenia-group psychoses. 'Turku Schizophrenia Project' denotes the research and therapeutic activities undertaken in the Turku Clinic of Psychiatry from 1968 onwards to devise optimal treatment of schizophrenia and functional psychotic disorders related to it. The focus in the development of therapeutic relationships at that time was clearly on psychodynamically oriented individual therapy. While confirming the relatively better outcomes of our individual therapies compared with family therapies, the follow-up findings on Cohort III at the same time revealed the significance of the family members' attitudes for the patients' outcome. A national programme for developing the study, treatment, and rehabilitation of schizophrenic patients organized by the National Board of Health, the Association of Mental Hospitals, and the League of Hospitals was carried out in Finland during 1981-87.
