@article {Schwichtenberg:August 2008:1438-3608:285,
	author = "Schwichtenberg, Julia",
	author = "Doering, Stephan",
	title = "Success of referral in a psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic outpatient unit of a dental school",
	journal = "Zeitschrift für Psychosomatische Medizin und Psychotherapie",
	volume = "54",
	year = "August 2008",
	abstract = "<B>Objectives:</B> The success of referral for psychotherapy and the predictors thereof are investigated in dentistry in an outpatient unit for psychosomatics.<P></P><B>Methods:</B> 238 patients were asked in a telephone interview concerning their satisfaction with the consultation as well as any change in their complaints and treatments after their contact with the outpatient unit.<P></P><B>Results:</B> 82.3 % of the patients were satisfied with the consultation, and 55.9 % reported an improvement in their complaints. In 76.1 % of the patients psychotherapy was indicated, and 56.7 % showed motivation and were referred to psychotherapy. Thereof, 66.7 % actually began treatment. Introspective capacity and motivation for psychotherapy predicted successful referral. Patients suffering from somatoform disorders were significantly less motivated to begin psychotherapy and showed a tendency toward premature termination of psychotherapy. In patients with anxiety disorders, the reverse was the case. Patients who did not begin psychotherapy changed their dentist significantly more frequently.<P></P><B>Conclusions:</B> The consultation at the outpatient unit can be regarded as successful insofar as four-fifths of the patients were satisfied and two-thirds of those referred actually began psychotherapy, which in turn significantly reduces "dentist shopping."",
	pages = "285-292(8)",
	url = "http://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/vr/zfpm/2008/00000054/00000003/art00007"
}