This study describes the treatments that 253 patients affected by major depressive disorder, according to DSM-III-R criteria, received by their general practitioner prior to their referral to the outpatients clinic of the Department of Psychiatry of the University of Rome "La Sapienza". Out of 253 study subjects only 97 had received prescriptions of antidepressant drugs. In about 50% of these cases (corresponding to 27.4% of the study population) prescribed dosages were inadequate. In 34.7% of subjects who sought medical help antidepressants were not prescribed and other psychotropic drugs (mostly benzodiazepines) or pseudodrugs were used. In 6% of cases no treatment was prescribed. Over one third of the outpatients had been ill for over one year prior to their referral to a psychiatrist. Remedial actions are considered.