A survey of the management of psychosocial illness in general practice in Manchester.

As part of a larger study 201 urban general practitioners from five health districts provided information on 6870 consultations with patients recorded as having psychosocial disorders, 5610 of which were concerned solely with psychosocial problems. The results showed a lower percentage of consultations for such conditions than other studies, although the age and sex distribution of the patients was similar. There was a wide variation in the proportion of such disorders in the case-mix of the 201 general practitioners, a higher proportion being associated with longer consultation times. The pattern of prescribing and referral is described and discussed. Referral to non-medical agencies played a small part in the overall care of patients with psychosocial disorders. Questions are raised as to the extent of team care in this wide cross-section of practices.