[Mental distress and the use of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatments services: results of the Study of Health in Pomerania].
OBJECTIVE
Due to the lack of adequate data on the need of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic care in the community, an evidence-based goal directed development of treatment systems in socioeconomically poorer regions in former Eastern Germany is not feasible.


METHODS
A community sample from the Study of Health in Pomerania (N = 4310) was investigated with the "Beschwerdenliste" from von Zerssen. The met and the unmet need of care were estimated.


RESULTS
3.1 % of all subjects were treated at least once by a mental health professional during the last 12 months. 12 % of the subjects, currently not in treatment, were estimated to be highly distressed by psychopathological symptoms and were considered to be potentially in need of mental health care. From this follows a treatment rate of 20 %. Subjects with high mental stress consulted their GP's, internists, orthopedics and neurologists significantly more often than subjects with low mental stress.


CONCLUSIONS
A considerable need of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment facilities has to be faced. Besides the improvement of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic treatment facilities, psychosocial networks should be established in order to provide an integrative and interdisciplinary approach to mental problems in the community.
Grabe
Hans Jörgen
HJ
Klinik für Psychiatrie und Psychotherapie, Ernst-Moritz-Arndt-Universität Greifswald, Klinikum der Hansestadt Stralsund, Rostocker Chaussee 70, 18437 Stralsund, Germany. grabeh@uni-greifswald.de
Alte
Dietrich
D
Adam
Christine
C
Sauer
Sybille
S
John
Ulrich
U
Freyberger
Harald Jürgen
HJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003158:Community Psychiatry / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D008511:Medicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D013038:Specialization; D014600:Utilization Review / Q000706:statistics & numerical data