Treatment of depressive symptoms and attitudes towards treatment options in a representative German general population sample.

Objective. To estimate treatment rates, self-medication, and preferences for treatment options of depressive symptoms. Methods. A German nationwide representative sample (n=2224) was interviewed. Subjects were asked to fill in a depressive symptom checklist, as well as to answer questions about current treatments and treatment preferences. Results. A total of 16.7% was mildly, 7.5% moderately and 6.5% strongly affected by depressive symptoms; 22.7% of the total affected group were currently or previously being treated by a physician. Self-initiated treatments had been stated as effective in 54.2% of cases. The preference for phytotherapeutic treatment approaches was about 3-6-fold higher than for standard antidepressants and psychotherapies. Treatment preference and wish for treatment increased with increasing severity of symptoms with regard to treatments that had to be professionally initiated. Conclusion. Despite considerable educational efforts, the prevalence of untreated and undiagnosed depressive symptoms seems to be high. There is still little acceptance for the most efficacious therapies for depression. More efforts should be made to increase knowledge about self-administered phytotherapeutic drugs, which might play an important role in a stepped-care approach of future depression management.