[Treatment of mental and psychosomatic complaints - how the general population in Germany gets treatment, and what it expects and knows about treatment alternatives].

OBJECTIVES: The healthcare sector provides a wide range of services with various treatment approaches for mental or psychosomatic complaints. The present study assesses treatment preferences and knowledge within the general population in Germany.
METHODS: In 2011, a total of n = 2555 individuals aged 14-97 years were interviewed as part of a representative population survey. Using a structured interview, we examined the retrospective, current, and prospective utilization of outpatient psychotherapy, treatment preferences, and knowledge of the alternatives.
RESULTS: Outpatient psychotherapy was currently or in the past used by 7.1 % of respondents, inpatient psychotherapy by 3.2 %. Medical psychotherapists were consulted by 12.5 %, psychological psychotherapists by 8.8 %o f the respondents. Future treatment expectations were directed more frequently towards medical than psychological psychotherapists. The primary care physician continues to play a pivotal role in the treatment of mental/psychosomatic disorders. Treatment expectations were largely independent of the type of disorder. Women were nearly twice as likely as men to utilize or have utilized outpatient psychotherapy (9.1 % vs. 4.8 %). DISCUSSION: The existing outpatient care for patients with mental or psychosomatic complaints is well accepted among large parts of the population. For mental or psychosomatic problems, the majority of respondents prefer a medical psychotherapist. Further research needs to clarify which factors determine this preference.