Entwicklung von dokumentierten Diagnosen aus dem psychischen Formenkreis in der Hausarztpraxis – eine retrospektive Studie mit Routinedaten

Objective: Mental health is essential for quality of life and participation in social life. The prevalence of mental disorders has been increasing worldwide over the past 20 years. General practitioners (GPs), as the first point of contact in our healthcare system, play a central role in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illnesses. The aim of this study was to describe the prevalence of documented mental health diagnoses in primary care and to describe their implications for healthcare utilization. Methods: This retrospective cohort study used routine data from 17 general practices that are part of the Supraregional Health Service Research Network (SHRN) covering the years 2001–2023. Using bivariate analyses, the characteristics of patients with and without documented mental health diagnoses were examined in terms of sociodemographic factors and healthcare utilization patterns. Results: Data from 310,963 patients were included in the analysis. Since 2001, there has been an increase in documented mental health diagnoses, reaching up to 14% in 2023, with depression being the most frequently documented diagnosis at 5%. The number of referrals increased from 4% (in 2001) to 23% (in 2023). For 77% of patients with a mental health diagnosis, no psychotherapeutic or psychiatric referral was documented. Conclusion: In line with the international literature, depression and anxiety disorders are the most frequently coded conditions. External factors such as the introduction of a primary care-centered healthcare program or the COVID-19 pandemic, appear to have a significant impact on the documentation of mental health diagnoses.