The purpose of this survey was to undertake an exploratory enquiry on the views of both staff and patients about psychiatric departments in general hospitals, mainly in London and southern England. It does not attempt to be a comprehensive attitude survey. Fourteen departments were included in the survey; at the first seven individual interviews were held, at the other seven written questionnaires were completed by small groups. the report expounds the diverse views of over 300 people but does not often attempt to evaluate them.