[Primary care physician's evaluation of psychiatric outpatient clinics]

In order to study to what degree physicians responsible for primary care are satisfied with the service provided by psychiatric outpatient clinics, we selected a catchment area of 240,000 inhabitants in Rogaland county, Norway. This area is served by 154 primary care physicians and two psychiatric outpatient clinics staffed with a total of 19 psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and nurses. 90% of the primary care doctors answered a questionnaire on their degree of satisfaction with the psychiatric outpatient unit. 63% reported needing more and better service. 60% had patients who should have been referred, but were not, and 44% indicated that, in their experience, the patients were treated by professions other than the desired ones. 60% reported that the greatest need was for evaluation of patients, and 38% wanted more long-term treatment. The physicians found refusal of referrals unacceptable without having an opportunity to discuss the case first. Waiting lists could be accepted, but preferably after advice had been given on treatment.