[Worries about the job, unemployment and health status--initial results of a study in Saxony]

1628 patients of general practitioners in Saxonia were asked and clinically examined in 1993 to find out the context between unemployment and health conditions. Surprisingly, the working people who "only" worry about losing their jobs were more concerned than the unemployed ones. However, more than 50% of the women and 41% of the men were troubled by this problem. The worried people reported about 23% a bad health condition but only 20.5% of the unemployed and 14% of the working people who had no fear of losing their place of work. In addition, those who were worried suffered from high social strain and more chronic diseases. In East Germany, this population is more disposed to health risks than any other one today, especially the unemployed. The family doctors will often be the first and only persons who will be able to recognise these connections.