Mental disorders Nearly a third affected

30 percent of Germans suffer from mental disorders

Around one third of the population in Germany suffers annually from a diagnosable mental disorder. In addition to depression, anxiety disorders, addictions and psychosomatic disorders are among the most common ailments. Nineteen professors and clinic heads in the fields of psychology and psychosomatic medicine came to the conclusion, according to media reports in the study of mental illness in Germany, that around 30 percent of the population had a diagnosable mental disorder within one year.

Consequences of psychosocial crises not controllable
The 19 professors and clinic chiefs warn in the current issue of the „Focus "not only on the social consequences and the personal consequences for those affected, but also point out the economic aspects that are associated with such a high number of mental illnesses.It is clear that the costs and consequences of psychosocial crises in our Society in the future are no longer controllable, so the statement of the experts.

In their analysis of mental illnesses in Germany, they came to the conclusion that around 30 percent of Germans suffer from a diagnosable mental disorder at least once a year. Depression, anxiety disorders, psychosomatic illnesses and addictions are the most common ailments.

Adequate treatment not guaranteed in the future
Joachim Galuska, Medical Director of the Psychosomatic Clinics Bad Kissingen, Thomas Loew, University Professor of Psychosomatic Medicine in Regensburg and Johannes Vogler, chief physician of the clinic Isny-Neutrauchburg have the current warning in the „Focus“-Reporting initiated. According to the three initiators, the enormous increase in the number of mental disorders, for example, causes considerable problems during treatment. Loudly, due to the large number of diagnoses, an adequate treatment of patients will no longer be possible in the future. Even if large additional sums of money were provided for funding, psychologists, psychotherapists and psychiatrists would have to treat three to five times more patients than they could, the experts said

Negative economic consequences
Galuska, Loew and Vogler also point out the economic consequences of rising treatment costs. The „Focus“ According to new calculations by the Federal Statistical Office and the Robert Koch Institute, the costs for the treatment of mental disorders in Germany amount to 28.6 billion euros in 2008. With 64,000 new pensioners who have retired due to a mental illness Here, too, a worrying record has been reached. In addition, about 763,000 gainful years of employment were due to mental and behavioral disorders in 2008, the experts explained in the current report. Mental disorders are currently the fourth-leading cause of sickness insurance inability to work, with the number of sick days due to mental disorders increasing by about 33 percent in 1991.

Mental disorders in all industrialized countries
But according to the experts, Germany is not alone in facing such a phenomenon. Similarly, all developed economies suffer from a massive increase in mental disorders and the associated economic and social consequences. Neither the costs nor the consequences of this growing number of psychosocial crises within our society can be managed on a permanent basis, the experts conclude. Therefore, they call under the „Focus“-Ask all fellow citizens to participate in the discussion to solve the problem.

Everyone should be aware that „Peace of mind (...) do not buy“ says the professors and clinic bosses and „That's why we urgently need to talk about this finding. Now.“ The university professors are far from being alone in this demand. For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) has repeatedly pointed to the social consequences of a growing number of mental disorders. According to a study by WHO, every fourth doctor's visit worldwide suffers from corresponding mental illnesses. So far, German studies have estimated that around 8 million Germans have psychiatric disorders in need of treatment. Thus, such ailments are among the most frequent consultations in general medical practice. However, some experts point out that part of the increase in mental disorders is attributable to improved diagnosis and treatment. Such suffering and its treatment are today destigmatized, which has increased the acceptance of psychotherapies - with a corresponding effect on the statistics. (fp, 26.10.2010)