Reports on a collaboration for 2 yrs on a project to set up a psychiatric service for the region of North Algeria known as the Grande Kabylie. A short review is presented of the historical development of psychiatry in AlgeriThe experience of Algerian psychiatrists in the period following political independence, as described in their published reports, is summarized, with special reference to the problems of rapid sociocultural change in AlgeriThe author also reports his own experience as a psychiatrist in Algeria and in setting up and running the project described. As traditional forms of self-help in the care of the mentally sick and the tolerant attitude of the society towards them appear to be in decline, the need for psychiatric services is increasing. No reliable conclusions regarding a true increase in psychiatric morbidity can be drawn, however, since no comparative data are available. The author's experience suggests that the emphasis in psychiatric care will have to be given to the development of outpatient and community-based services. (51 ref)