ABSTRACT
This chapter summarizes the results of research conducted in general practice in and around Verona, and considers data on psychiatric morbidity collected at all levels of D. P. Goldberg and P. Huxley’s scheme, based upon the same geographical area and within the same time frame. S. Marino et al. collected data from patients attending thirty-two general practitioners in South Verona on one particular day. The study of the full spectrum of psychiatric morbidity at all levels, in the same geographical area, can be regarded as providing relevant information for the evaluation of specialist services. Psychotropics were more likely to be prescribed when there was conspicuous psychiatric morbidity and, in women only, when the practitioners identified a social problem; and less likely to be prescribed when the patient was physically ill. General practitioners are funded by the Local Health Unit with a fixed allowance per patient registered, regardless of the number of consultations and prescriptions and other provisions of care.
