Meeting abstract

https://doi.org/10.24869/spsih.2026.133

Psychotherapy in the Health Care System

Tihana Jendričko ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia; Croatian Psychiatric Association, Zagreb, Croatia *
Goran Arbanas ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Branka Aukst Margetić ; Dubrava University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia; University Hospital of Split, Split, Croatia
Ante Bagarić ; University Psychiatric Hospital Vrapče, Zagreb, Croatia
Dolores Britvić ; University Hospital of Split, Split, Croatia
Majda Grah ; University Psychiatric Hospital Sveti Ivan, Zagreb, Croatia
Nataša Jokić-Begić ; Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Marina Letica Crepulja ; Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
Darko Marčinko ; University Hospital Centre Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia

* Corresponding author.

Abstract

Psychotherapy is one of the fundamental components
of the contemporary biopsychosocial
model of treating mental disorders and plays an
important role in achieving the goals of the Strategic
Framework for the Development of Mental
Health up to 2030 and the Action Plan for the
Implementation of a Community Mental Health
Care System up to 2027. Modern mental health
care development is focused on increasing the
availability of psychotherapeutic interventions,
their timely application in line with clinical indications,
ensuring continuity of care, and integrating
them with pharmacological, rehabilitative,
and other therapeutic procedures. The development
of community-based services, multidisciplinary teams, and digital forms of care, including
telepsychiatry and telepsychotherapy, further expands
the possibilities for providing high-quality
and accessible psychotherapeutic support to different
user groups. The contemporary approach
goes beyond the traditional division into biological,
psychotherapeutic, and social treatment models
and promotes an integrated, person-centered
model of care that takes into account symptoms,
level of functioning, interpersonal relationships,
life circumstances, and individual recovery goals.
In this context, the role of psychotherapeutic programs
in inpatient and outpatient settings is particularly
emphasized, where the therapeutic effect
arises not only from individual psychotherapeutic
work, but also from a structured therapeutic
environment, interdisciplinary collaboration, involvement
of the family and community, and the
provision of continuity of treatment and recovery.
The development of psychotherapy requires
defining its possibilities and limitations, as well as
distinguishing developmental and existential difficulties
from mental disorders that require specific
psychiatric treatment. A particular challenge
is establishing a balance between the timely recognition
and treatment of mental disorders and
avoiding unnecessary psychiatrization of everyday
life challenges. Further development of psychotherapy
in the public health system therefore
entails strengthening the availability, quality, and
sustainability of psychotherapeutic services, integrating
them into the community mental health
care system, and developing interdisciplinary, recovery-
oriented models of care that respond to
the growing needs of the population.

Keywords

psychotherapy; psychiatry; health care; biopsychosocial model

Hrčak ID:

352259

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/352259

Publication date:

15.6.2026.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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