[Treatment methods in various stages of the pathway to psychiatric care]

The aim of this study was to analyse the treatment methods at the different stages of the pathway to psychiatric care.

In a period of two months all patients age 15 and over who applied to the Psychiatric Service in the Zabkowice catchment area and Psie-Pole catchment area were assessed by psychiatrists for their eligibility to enter the study. Those who had fulfilled the entry criteria were interviewed using a Polish version of WHO's encounter form (EF) by the mental health professionals during their initial interview.

A total of 228 patients (105 men and 123 women) were seen. Encounter forms were completed on 200 people. 28 patients refused to answer some of the questions. There were significant differences in treatments offered to patients by hospital doctors and medical specialists, general practitioners (GP's) and psychiatrists. Our data show that sedative/hypnotics are the main psychotropic drugs prescribed by GP's. The small percentage of antidepressant (10% of all psychotropic drugs) used by GP's and medical specialists was noteworthy. They didn't decide to prescribe neuroleptics to their patients.

The study revealed that GP's, hospital doctor & medical specialists prescribed antidepressant and neuroleptics far too rarely and GP's far too often prescribed sedative/hypnotics. This can indicate that they have difficulties in diagnosing of mental disorders as well as poor knowledge concerning indications relating the use of psychotropic drugs.