[Appearance and frequency of mental diseases. Epidemiological investigations (author's transl)].

After a survey of the earlier psychiatric epidemiological studies carried out in Munich, particularly the work of Brugger, three investigations carried out by the Munich Psychiatric Hospital in the last decade are described: a study to determine the administrative prevalence and incidence in the afflux area of the Gabersee District Hospital, an investigation to determine the frequency of psychic disorders among the patients of doctors in private practise and finally a field study which served to establish the true morbidity in the population. For mental disorders needing therapy a prevalence of 18.5% was found which is primarily based diagnostically on neurotic and psychosomatic diseases. To cover the need for treatment it is not proposed that specialist care should be extended but rather that the competence of the practising physician with regard to psychiatric diseases be considerably strengthened.