This article gives a description of the quality of emergency psychiatry services of the RIAGGs (Regional Institutes for Ambulatory Mental Health Care). It discusses the results of two studies. Using the Concept Mapping method in one study a set of quality criteria has been formulated. In the other study 73 interventions of five emergency services were observed and described. In this article the practice of the services is compared to the quality criteria. The following five criteria are discussed: accessibility, openess and empathy, crisismanagement, respectful treatment, and medical treatment.