Patients with a psychiatric diagnosis in general practice: (co)morbidity and contacts.

In this study we give a detailed account of the morbidity of patients with a psychiatric disorder, as diagnosed by general practitioners (GPs), during one year. We have found that about half of the patients with a psychiatric disorder according to a standardised psychiatric interview are diagnosed by the GP as such. Depending on their psychiatric disorder, 30-40% of these patients only present somatic problems that are not indicative for psychological or psychiatric problems. Patients with a psychiatric disorder have relatively more psychological or psychiatric diagnoses recorded by their GPs than the practice population as a whole. However, the list of most common diagnoses is comparable with the list of the most common diagnoses of the practice population. Patients with a psychiatric disorder stand out especially by a higher contact rate for somatic illnesses as will as for psychological ones or psychiatric problems. (aut. ref.