[In Process Citation]

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry
• Epidemiology
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Schizophrenia (F20 according to ICD 10) is a significant mental health condition requiring ongoing specialist care.
• Understanding the prevalence and patterns of care for schizophrenia patients is crucial for resource allocation and service planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To estimate the number of adult schizophrenia patients receiving specialist care in Germany in 1997.
• To determine the distribution of care across different healthcare settings (office-based specialists, outpatient clinics, hospitals).

Main Methods:

• A representative paper and pencil survey was conducted.
• Data were collected from office-based psychiatrists, neurologists, psychiatric outpatient clinics, and psychiatric wards/hospitals across Germany.

Main Results:

• Approximately 136,000 adult patients with diagnosed schizophrenia were attended by specialists in Germany in 1997.
• 75.4% received care from office-based specialists, 21.3% from outpatient clinics, and 3.3% required long-term hospital attention (>1 year).
• Schizophrenia patients under specialist care represented 0.21% of the German population over 18 years.

Conclusions:

• The majority of schizophrenia patients in Germany in 1997 were managed in outpatient settings.
• A small but significant proportion required long-term inpatient care, highlighting the need for comprehensive service provision.