General practitioner and psychotherapist referrals to a specialist psychotherapy centre

Abstract

General practitioners (GPs) were surveyed by questionnaire to determine their views on the indications for specialist psychotherapy and their estimates about the number of patients they thought should be referred. GPs had good awareness of the types of treatments available. There was close agreement between referring and non-referring GPs and with specialists on the indications for treatment. Estimates about demand for services showed that those who had not referred in the previous year estimated higher rates than those who had referred. GPs and specialists show good overall agreement on level of service and the indications for its use.