Success of referral in a psychosomatic-psychotherapeutic outpatient unit of a dental school

Objectives: The success of referral for psychotherapy and the predictors thereof are investigated in dentistry in an outpatient unit for psychosomatics. Methods: 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. Results: 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. Conclusions: 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."