Open Dialogue as a contribution to a healthy society: possibilities and limitations

This article proceeds from and explores the assumption that psychiatry has arrived at a crossroads, at which it has to choose, whether it will go on in the direction of neuroscience or turn back towards the individual, within its specific surroundings, with a focus on what the Open Dialogue Approach can contribute to the debate. Because of the comprehensiveness of this approach some changes should be expected in the treatment system. These affect the interests of many groups involved: patients, relatives, professionals and governmental agencies will profit in different ways, and some things might change that particular members of the different “lobbies” might see as a loss. Before getting close to a solution, the actual proceedings in Germany, based on experiences in Finland, are outlined, and finally some thoughts are shared on the difficulties of implementing the approach.