[Altruism--unselfish help given by one person to another].

Altruistic behaviour belongs to so-called prosocial activities. It is focused on the benefit of another human being who is in want or is threatened. Its substantial features include voluntariness, unselfishness and specific motivation, based on human mutuality and unity. Altruism was at the very beginnings of organized health care. As a result of the development of medicine the human attitude of the doctor to the patient, and thus also psychological care and treatment were pushed into the background. At present "patient-orientated medicine" is enforced which comprises a psychological approach with altruistic elements.