About 4 million adults in Germany suffer from depression (s. figure). This amounts to around 5% of the total population. Most of them – around 60 – 70% - are being treated by general practitioners. But this does not mean that their depression has been recognized as such and is being adequately treated. In about 50% of the cases of patients treated by general practitioners the depression remains undiscovered. Overall only a third of depressive patients are diagnosed as such and less than one in ten is suitably treated. (Source: Prof. Ulrich Hegerl: "Versorgungsdefizite bei depressiven Patienten", Kompetenznetz Depression / Competence Network Depression)
Although depression is not recognized and treated in so many cases, those suffering from depression sometimes have to wait as long as four to five months for a therapy place according to the German Federal Psychotherapists Chamber.
There are many reasons why depression often remains unrecognized:
- Shame of the afflicted
The depressive patients mistakenly experience their illness as personal failure and are ashamed to go to a doctor or psychotherapist, although in many cases this would be the right decision. Many of those affected by depression suffer from feelings of hopelessness and powerlessness and are unable to look for help.
- Physical complaints are placed in the foreground
For the general practitioner – usually the first person contacted in cases of depression – it is often difficult to diagnose a depression. The patients often place physical complaints in the foreground and as a result the underlying depression is not recognized in more than half the cases. A preparation for a visit to the doctor can help, as can a depression self-screener for the assessment of one’s own mood and mental state.
- The difficulties involved in depression are underestimated
The day-to-day situation in medical practices is often so hectic that it is not easy for doctors and therapists to find the necessary time for a detailed, time-consuming diagnosis of the depression. In this case too it would be best for you to take the results of the free self-screener with you to your doctor.
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