title: [Treatment of mental and psychosomatic complaints - how the general population in Germany gets treatment, and what it expects and knows about treatment alternatives].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The healthcare sector provides a wide range of services with various treatment approaches for mental or psychosomatic complaints. The present study assesses treatment preferences and knowledge within the general population in Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  In 2011, a total of n = 2555 individuals aged 14-97 years were interviewed as part of a representative population survey. Using a structured interview, we examined the retrospective, current, and prospective utilization of outpatient psychotherapy, treatment preferences, and knowledge of the alternatives.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Outpatient psychotherapy was currently or in the past used by 7.1 % of respondents, inpatient psychotherapy by 3.2 %. Medical psychotherapists were consulted by 12.5 %, psychological psychotherapists by 8.8 %o f the respondents. Future treatment expectations were directed more frequently towards medical than psychological psychotherapists. The primary care physician continues to play a pivotal role in the treatment of mental/psychosomatic disorders. Treatment expectations were largely independent of the type of disorder. Women were nearly twice as likely as men to utilize or have utilized outpatient psychotherapy (9.1 % vs. 4.8 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The existing outpatient care for patients with mental or psychosomatic complaints is well accepted among large parts of the population. For mental or psychosomatic problems, the majority of respondents prefer a medical psychotherapist. Further research needs to clarify which factors determine this preference.
authors.affiliation: Klinik für Psychosomatik und Psychotherapie, Justus-Liebig-Universität Giessen. Astrid.Larisch@psycho.med.uni-giessen.de
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Larisch
authors.forename: Gereon
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Heuft
authors.forename: Svenja
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Engbrink
authors.forename: Elmar
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brähler
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kruse
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010358:Patient Participation; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult