[Psychosomatic and psychotherapeutic outpatient care in Germany - Capacity profile based on data from the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians].

Abstract At the centre of the study lay a representation of outpatient psychosomatic and psychotherapeutic care with a focus on different groups of medical and psychological therapists. The routine data of the National Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KBV) from the year 2008 were analyzed based on a systematic literature review (Medline, ISI, to November 2010). Neurologists and psychiatrists see the most patients (n = 3,172 vs n = 1,347 cases per practice), but they rarely provide services according to the directives for psychotherapy (4,4 %). However, specialists for psychosomatic medicine and psychotherapy (65 %), physicians providing only psychotherapy (66 %) and psychological psychotherapists (73 %) provide care mainly according to the directives for psychotherapy and therefore see fewer patients (170-190 cases per practice).Medical psychotherapists work more often on a psychodynamic basis, while psychological psychotherapists perform more often behavioral therapy. The treatment of patients with mental and psychosomatic disorders is based on three columns of care, which differ in their supply profile and each make a specific contribution to the treatment.