TY - JOUR
KW - Adult
KW - Aged
KW - Anti-Anxiety Agents/therapeutic use
KW - Antidepressive Agents/therapeutic use
KW - Benchmarking
KW - Benzodiazepines/therapeutic use
KW - Counseling/statistics & numerical data
KW - Drug Prescriptions/statistics & numerical data
KW - Drug Utilization/statistics & numerical data
KW - Family Practice/statistics & numerical data
KW - Female
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Medical Records Systems, Computerized
KW - Mental Disorders/drug therapy/epidemiology/therapy
KW - Middle Aged
KW - Netherlands/epidemiology
KW - Physician's Practice Patterns/statistics & numerical data
KW - Prevalence
KW - Primary Health Care/statistics & numerical data
KW - Psychotropic Drugs/therapeutic use
KW - Referral and Consultation/statistics & numerical data
AU - E. van Rijswijk
AU - M. Borghuis
AU - E. van de Lisdonk
AU - F. Zitman
AU - C. van Weel
A1 - 
AB - OBJECTIVE: Real-life data on the treatment of patients with mental health problems are important as a reference to evaluate care and benchmarking. This study describes the treatment of mental health problems in general practice as diagnosed by general practitioners (GP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on mental health problems were available from structured psychiatric interviews in the general population and data on mental health problems diagnosed by general practitioners. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment data were taken from patients records held electronically in general practices. RESULTS: GPs diagnosed a mental health problem in 13.2% of the 1,756 cases examined and 86% of these patients were treated by the GPs themselves. Of the 16% referrals, the majority were referred within primary care. Nearly all patients with a mental health problem received counseling or advice from their GP. Half of the patients with a medication-related disorder, a (single) mood disorder or an (single) anxiety disorder and all patients with a combined anxiety and depressive disorder received a prescription for psychotropic drugs (antidepressants and/or benzodiazepines). Nearly all patients with a sleep disorder received a prescription for benzodiazepine. In patients with psychosocial problems, 20% received benzodiazepines. CONCLUSION: The majority of mental health problems, when professionally treated, are treated in primary care. More than half the patients are treated with antidepressants and/or benzodiazepines. Most patients also receive supportive counseling or advice.
BT - International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
C5 - HIT & Telehealth
CP - 1
CY - Germany
IS - 1
JF - International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Real-life data on the treatment of patients with mental health problems are important as a reference to evaluate care and benchmarking. This study describes the treatment of mental health problems in general practice as diagnosed by general practitioners (GP). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on mental health problems were available from structured psychiatric interviews in the general population and data on mental health problems diagnosed by general practitioners. Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment data were taken from patients records held electronically in general practices. RESULTS: GPs diagnosed a mental health problem in 13.2% of the 1,756 cases examined and 86% of these patients were treated by the GPs themselves. Of the 16% referrals, the majority were referred within primary care. Nearly all patients with a mental health problem received counseling or advice from their GP. Half of the patients with a medication-related disorder, a (single) mood disorder or an (single) anxiety disorder and all patients with a combined anxiety and depressive disorder received a prescription for psychotropic drugs (antidepressants and/or benzodiazepines). Nearly all patients with a sleep disorder received a prescription for benzodiazepine. In patients with psychosocial problems, 20% received benzodiazepines. CONCLUSION: The majority of mental health problems, when professionally treated, are treated in primary care. More than half the patients are treated with antidepressants and/or benzodiazepines. Most patients also receive supportive counseling or advice.
PP - Germany
PY - 2007
SN - 0946-1965; 0946-1965
SP - 23
EP - 29
EP - 
T1 - Treatment of mental health problems in general practice: a survey of psychotropics prescribed and other treatments provided
T2 - International journal of clinical pharmacology and therapeutics
TI - Treatment of mental health problems in general practice: a survey of psychotropics prescribed and other treatments provided
U1 - HIT & Telehealth
VL - 45
VO - 0946-1965; 0946-1965
Y1 - 2007
ER -