[Depressive patients in primary care]

The study aimed at investigating out-patient treatment of patients with depressive disorders referred to a psychiatric hospital by general practitioners (GP) and psychiatrists in private practice (PP). Data of the German psychiatric basic documentation system (DGPPN-BADO) of all depressive inpatients admitted to a psychiatric hospital in 2003 were analysed (n = 360). GP-patients had significantly less often a psychopharmalogical treatment before admission than PP-patients (59.4% vs. 89.7%). GP give significantly less often antidepressive drugs than PP do (53.1% vs. 87.9%). 4,7% of GP-patients and 17.9% of PP-patients received supportive psychotherapy, special psychotherapeutic treatment regimes were seldom in use during outpatient care (4,7% vs. 5,4%).