Sources and method – Depression

These 15 topic pages are based primarily on the National Care Guideline/S3 guideline "Unipolar Depression", statutory texts (gesetze-im-internet.de), guidelines of the Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss) and publications of the Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe and the Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists (Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer). The field "Sources" on each topic page names the specific references.

Sources

1. National Care Guideline/S3 guideline Unipolar Depression (Nationale VersorgungsLeitlinie/S3-Leitlinie Unipolare Depression), version 3.0, AWMF register no. nvl-005, valid from 16 July 2025 to 23 February 2030 (register.awmf.org). Basis for the definition, severity grades and the stepped treatment approach.
2. Gesetze im Internet (gesetze-im-internet.de), Federal Ministry of Justice and Federal Office of Justice, retrieved September 2026: consolidated versions of SGB V (incl. §§ 13, 39, 44–48, 61, 62, 118), SGB VI (incl. §§ 9, 43, 50, 53, 99, 102, 116), SGB IX (incl. §§ 2, 152, 167, 168, 173, 208), EFZG (§§ 3, 5), BGB (§§ 630e, 1358, 1814, 1831), KSchG (§§ 4, 7), AGG (§ 15), SGG (§ 84) and GG (Art. 104).
3. Psychotherapy Guideline of the Federal Joint Committee (Psychotherapie-Richtlinie des Gemeinsamen Bundesausschusses), as of 2024/2026 (g-ba.de). Basis for consultation hours, acute treatment, preliminary sessions and hour quotas.
4. Versorgungsmedizin-Verordnung with Versorgungsmedizinische Grundsätze (Ordinance on Medical Care with its Medical Principles) (annex to § 2 VersMedV), cited from secondary sources reviewed (incl. versorgungsmedizinische-grundsaetze.de), not cross-checked against the full official text. Basis for the GdB guideline values for mental disorders.
5. Federal Chamber of Psychotherapists (Bundespsychotherapeutenkammer, BPtK), press releases and background papers on waiting times for psychotherapy, incl. an analysis based on first contacts in the first quarter of 2019 as well as a regional study for Bavaria (bptk.de).
6. Stiftung Deutsche Depressionshilfe (deutsche-depressionshilfe.de), Info-Telefon Depression (depression info line) and information on self-help groups, retrieved September 2026.
7. TelefonSeelsorge Deutschland (telefonseelsorge.de), information on availability and free-of-charge service, retrieved September 2026.
8. NAKOS – Nationale Kontakt- und Informationsstelle zur Anregung und Unterstützung von Selbsthilfegruppen (National Contact and Information Centre for Encouraging and Supporting Self-Help Groups) (nakos.de).

Where statements are expressly marked as uncertain

For some statements, no direct official primary source could be cross-checked with full certainty during research, or the statement depends on region or individual case. This applies in particular to:

• the average waiting time for a psychotherapy place (around 142 days according to a BPtK analysis of billing data from the first quarter of 2019) – a study value with its own survey period and considerable regional differences, not a current nationwide statistic for September 2026;
• the exact, procedure-specific hour quotas of long-term therapy (behavioural therapy, psychodynamic and analytic psychotherapy) – given here only as a framework, as secondary sources give slightly differing figures; the current Psychotherapy Guideline of the G-BA is authoritative in the individual case;
• the exact GdB ranges for mental disorders under the Versorgungsmedizinische Grundsätze – taken over as guideline values from secondary sources, not cross-checked against the official full text of the annex to the VersMedV, and in any case designed as an individual-case assessment, not as a fixed table conferring a legal entitlement;
• the structure and availability of regional psychiatric crisis services – a matter for the federal states, in this research documented only as examples for individual states (Bavaria, Berlin), not across the board for all 16 states;
• the exact transitional periods for retroactive protection against dismissal for people with severe disability if the application for recognition was only filed shortly before a dismissal – only the principle is given here (duty to obtain the consent of the Integrationsamt, exception in the first six months), not an exhaustive account of all special cases;
• Opening hours and availability of individual advice services mentioned (e.g. Info-Telefon Depression) may change – if in doubt, check the information on the respective original website.

In all these cases the relevant topic page expressly names the uncertainty instead of presenting a figure or assessment as established fact.

What this platform does – and what it does not

• Legal bases, deadlines and procedures come from the sources named. Nothing was added that is not substantiated there. Where a statement could not be reliably verified, this is noted on the relevant page instead of guessed.
• These pages do not replace a medical or psychotherapeutic diagnosis or treatment. They deliberately contain no dosage recommendations or other medical advice on medication.
• These pages do not replace legal advice in an individual case. Social and employment law change; always have important information checked by an advice centre, a doctor or a lawyer.
• In case of acute suicide risk or a mental health crisis, no information on this site replaces direct contact with professional help: emergency number 112 or TelefonSeelsorge 0800 111 0 111 / 0800 111 0 222, free of charge, anonymous, around the clock – see Acute treatment and crisis service and Advice and contact points.