PSYCHOLOGICAL COMPLAINTS AND MENTAL-DISOR DERS OF UNIVERSITY-STUDENTS

Objectives of our investigation a re the assessment of the prevalence of psychological disorders of students, the kind of symptoms and compl aints and the frequency of treatment required. Secondly it is investig ated whether the disorders of the clients consulting a counseling serv ice are clinically relevant. The method has been a multidimensional fi eld study of 346 students at the University of Heidelberg compared wit h 342 patients of the Psychotherapeutic Counseling Service of the Univ ersity. Results: 16% of the students assess themselves as severely men tally disordered and in need of treatment. This group shows objectivel y and clinically significant more frequent and more distinct psycholog ical symptoms. The patients consulting a psychotherapeutic counseling service show the same degree of psychological symptoms as the persons of the control group who assess themselves as being in need of treatme nt. Depressive syndromes, working disorders, anxieties and interperson al conflicts are the dominant areas of complaints. In the provision of counseling and treatment for students with psychological disorders, a psychotherapeutic counseling service plays its specific role.