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Introduction: National health resources are considered inadequate to meet the needs of Mental Health services in Poland due in part to insufficient funding. The status of the nursing profession is autonomous and independent, and one that bears much public trust. Nevertheless, psychiatric nursing is in deep crisis. Aim of the study: To determine the strengths and limitations of the psychiatric nursing system in Poland. Method: Participants of a major Psychiatric Nursing Conference in Poland were surveyed in terms of professional job satisfaction and current problems encountered in psychiatric nursing. Results were appropriately categorized and subjected to quantitative analysis. Results: There were 74 subjects, amounting to a 70% response rate who completed the study questionnaire. Problem areas were focused on how the mental health system is organized and on staff working conditions that included terms of employment and salaries. The main reasons for job satisfaction were those issues associated with the treatment process. Two participants replied that they were not satisfied. Discussion: The numerous problems encountered in Polish psychiatry nursing require further debate and the updating of legal regulations to increase funding. Recently introduced regulations on the minimal standards acceptable for nurse/bed ratios have however been postponed until 2021. The issues concerning job satisfaction have also been referred to in previous studies. Implication for practice: The crisis facing psychiatric nursing in Poland requires systemic changes in both legal regulations and financing. Notwithstanding, such professionals and their societies could facilitate the necessary changes through enhancing public debate and stimulating nursing-focused research.

Objective: Numerous studies confirm efficacy of psychiatric treatment as well as psychiatric placebo. The aim of the current study was the assessment of improvement rate and factors associated with treatment response in naturalistic group of adolescent inpatients., Methods: Eighty two consecutive adolescent inpatients were recruited. Each patient at the admission and discharge was assessed with brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS), eating attitude test (EAT-26), clinical global impression scale (CGI-S) and children global assessment scale (CGAS). Individual and family history was assessed by semi-structured interview. Patients, who improved in at least two interviewer-based scales (IMP, n = 67) were compared to the rest (N-IMP, n = 15). For statistical analysis STATISTICA package was used., Results: The main difference between groups was ICD-10 diagnosis distribution: in the IMP group more anxiety-related disorders (F4), in the N-IMP group more personality disorders (F6). Other differences include history of paediatric hospitalisations and surgery (more in the N-IMP group). Most of the analysed factors did not differ between groups., Conclusions: The inpatient treatment seems to be most effective in severe mental states and in anxiety-related disorders and least effective in personality disorders. Due to limited inpatient treatment efficacy we believe outpatients services are crucial in adolescent psychiatry.