[Socio-medical aspects of mental disorders: mental disorders in the German medical health care system and socio-medical therapeutic interventions].

In the first article social medicine was defined. In this second article the health care system and special socio-medical treatments for the individual are described. The role of social medicine is to describe and optimize the health care system. The legal basis for the structure of the health care system is the Social Law. The individual encounter between therapists and patients is also regulated by law. This includes a contract of personal service. Liability of therapists is therefore restricted to correct treatment, which must be documented, and not depending on outcome. Therapists must cooperate with each other. There are special socio-medical treatments for individuals. This includes sickness certificates, enforced treatment, guardianship, support by counselling services, socio-medical support by physicians and psychotherapists in private practice, care and assessment in rehabilitation centres, and measures for reintegration into working life.