The Institute, as the main institution of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine for social and forensic psychiatry, contributes to the improvement of the organization of the system of mental health, the development of modern scientifically based methods of prevention, treatment, rehabilitation and rehabilitation of patients with mental health problems in order to restore their full functioning. in a society, and guided in its activity by priority directions of scientific and social policy, determined by the Decrees of the President of Ukraine, by the resolutions of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, Ministry of Health of Ukraine, the needs of health care.

In the team of the Institute is studying and solving current problems in the field of social psychiatry (medical and social problems of the treatment of mental disorders, adults, children and adolescents, psychosomatic medicine, child psychiatry, compulsory psychiatric measures), forensic psychiatric examination (complex forensic psychiatric examination) and Drug Abuse (chemical and non-medical form of addiction - problems prevention of substance dependence, tobacco, gambling, Internet).

As part of the Institute, there are 6 research departments where applied scientific research works are carried out.

The institute has a ambulance department, which provides highly-qualified outpatient counseling-diagnostic and therapeutic and preventive care to the population of Ukraine, mainly to people with diagnostic and complicated forms of mental disorders and complications of psychopharmacotherapy.

The doctors-forensic psychiatric experts of the Institute carry out repeated and especially complex forensic psychiatric examinations in civil and criminal proceedings.

The Institute publishes a specialized scientific journal "Archive of Psychiatry".

The Institute has a Specialized Academic Council K 26.620.01 with the right to defend candidate and doctoral dissertations in specialties 14.01.16 - "Psychiatry".

Research is being conducted at the Institute in collaboration with leading scientists from Germany, Great Britain, Lithuania, France, Portugal, Spain, Italy, Ireland, Poland.