Mental Health Problems in the Offices of General Practitioners and Internists

The data presented constitute the first results of a survey among ambulatory care physicians in the Federal Republic of Germany (EVaS). The study was based on a sample of 969 ambulatory care physicians of almost every specialty. This physician group represents a 10% sample of doctors in an area representative of the Federal Republic of Germany with respect to variables such as distribution of physicians by specialty, population distribution by age and sex, and health insurance status. The response rate was 62%. The survey was conducted in the last 3 months of 1981 and the first 3 months of 1982. Analyses are based on office contacts by ambulatory care patients selected at random by physicians. The reporting period for physicians was 2 days.