The present survey conducted among psychiatrists has indicated a shortage of time they have for examination of their patients. The goal of our survey was to find out which of the patients with different diagnoses, and in which order, would Slovak psychiatrists examine in such a limited time. Particularly, we were interested in the positioning of the patients with dependency on alcohol and other psychoactive substances. We have approached forty-five psychiatrists with anonymous questionnaire. They were asked to indicate in which order they would provide an out-patient examination to six patients, each suffering from mental disorder of the equal clinical significance, but of different diagnosis. Patients with different diagnosis have been positioned by the total sum of their rankings obtained from the group of psychiatrists, who indicated in which order they would provide care to them: (1) patients with diagnosis of schizophrenia, (2) patients with diagnosis of depression, (3) patients with dementia, (4) patients with diagnosis of neurotic disorder, (5) with dependency on alcohol, and as last (6) were ranked positioned patients with diagnosis of dependency on other psycho active substances. From the results of our survey it is possible to conclude, that accessibility of the psychiatric care for patients with dependency on alcohol and other drugs is not sufficient in Slovakia.

Key words: accessibility of treatment – psychiatric care – alcoholism – dependency on psychoactive substances – drug addiction