[Usage behavior related to the 9-Euro-ticket - impetus for psychiatric outpatients to increase activity and social contacts?]

This study presents first descriptive statistics on the usage behavior relating to discounted tickets for public transportation as part of an initiative of the German Federal Government in 2022. During a three-month period, 103 psychiatric outpatients of the University Clinic - Charité Berlin provided self-reported data by completing a survey. In general results suggested a high usage rate of the so-called "9-Euro-ticket" of 89,3%. Due to its purchase, 37,9% (N=39) of the participants felt motivated to explore unknown places. Furthermore, approximately one third of the sample (34,9%; n=36) reported an increase of social contacts as a result of their ticket usage. A higher influence of costs on participants' activity levels was associated with an increase in main symptoms. Higher age was correlated with a decrease of patients' core symptoms due to their activity. Results indicate a high usage of reduced-price tickets for subsidized public transport by the patients concerned.