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.