title: Psychological comorbidity in medical rehabilitation--the need for education.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Prevalence of comorbid mental disorders in rehabilitation patients is high. In spite of the bio-psycho-social approach in rehabilitation, recognition and treatment rates of comorbid mental disorders during rehabilitation are low. The purpose of the study was to raise specific information about current clinical practice concerning comorbid mental disorders and training needs of rehabilitation personnel.
  
  
  METHODS
  435 questionnaires were sent out to medical personnel in 54 rehabilitation hospitals in south-west Germany.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Psychologists in rehabilitation spend most of their time on counselling (45%) and group interventions (29%). Physicians and psychologists both feel highly responsible for recognizing mental disorders and motivating patients to seek aftercare. Screeners are rarely used by psychologists and physicians. Seventy-six percent of the participants would take part in specific training sessions. High training needs were stated for affective, anxiety and somatoform disorders. A specific training session for mental health in rehabilitation should last at least half a day and cover affective, anxiety and somatoform disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Taking these results into account, it is possible to put together a training program in diagnostics of comorbid mental disorders, which fits the needs of the professionals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Freiburg University Hospital, Germany. daniela_hahn@psyallg.ukl.uni-freiberg.de
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bengel
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Härter
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012046:Rehabilitation / Q000193:education*; D012047:Rehabilitation Centers; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires