[Aspects of patient selection in psychosomatic ambulatory care]

A study of selective social factors was conducted among a sample of 350 out-patients of the Psychosomatic Clinic Heidelberg. The findings indicate that the age of a patient, his education and the type of his contacting the psychosomatic ambulance are relevant to a further therapeutical treatment by the clinic. A higher education, an age under 30 and a contact with the ambulance on one's own initiative were found as factors of positive influence for a further therapy. A subsequent study showed an obvious correlation between these aspects of selection and the therapeutical situation, in particular the frequency of a psychotherapeutical treatment, of all patients after 6 months.