[Intended utilization of health care services in cases of mental illnesses with varying urgency].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate variations in intended utilization in cases of an acute psychotic episode, an alcohol related or depressive disorder depending on different case characteristics.

METHODS: A telephone survey with case vignettes was conducted (N=1,200). Vignettes varied in terms of urgency of symptoms, daytime, sex of the afflicted person and age/mental disorder. The respondents were asked to indicate whom they would contact first in the described case.

RESULTS: Outpatient physicians were named most frequently as the first point of contact (61.1%) while only 6.5% of the respondents named emergency medicine including the medical on call service (8.1% in high urgency cases, i. e. emergencies that did not tolerate any delay). Intended utilization varied by urgency and age/mental illness.

CONCLUSION: More Information about the need to seek medical help immediately in cases of mental illnesses with high urgency should be provided.