With the emerging international consensus towards community care of the mentally ill, there comes a growing need for meaningful evaluation of services. Redressing the current lack of guidance this book describes how to do mental health service research. It comprehensively reviews the most recent developments in research design, method and measurement at the level of both whole service systems and individual programmes within mental health services. Each of the issues is adeptly illustrated with practical descriptions of comprehensive evaluation projects. The important advances already achieved in knowledge about effective services are highlighted along with descriptions of future work that will further develop our understanding of meeting patient requirements. This volume will appeal to all who are involved in mental health service research as well as those who make use of their results.