Why in general practice?
In general practice, about one-third of patients have a psychiatric disorder, mainly anxiety and depression.11 Only half of the patients with psychiatric disorders are identified by GPs mainly because primary care patients usually present somatic symptoms and only rarely mention their psychological problems.12,13 The diagnosis social phobia is almost never applied in general practice. The patients are given more general diagnoses such as anxiety or depressive conditions, sleeping problems, substance abuse or somatization such as myalgia, gastritis or cardiac neurosis. Nearly all patients with anxiety and depressive conditions are treated by family doctors, whereas only a few are seen by psychiatrists.14,15 Given this distribution of care, it is important to ensure that GPs are well trained in psychiatric assessment, diagnosis and treatment. Valid and reliable diagnostic procedures and efficacious treatment strategies for anxiety disorders have been developed in psychiatric settings ove
