Data on diagnosis at intake are lacking for out-patient clinics of General Psychiatric Hospitals in The Netherlands, and so are longitudinal data. In this study, such data were collected at an out-patient clinic in the North of The Netherlands, and compared to similar unpublished data from an out-patient clinic in the West. Results showed remarkable constancy and similarity, the only exception being a fall in diagnosed mood disorders in the North. This effect was attributed to the introduction of the DSM-system and changing treatment strategies of general practitioners.