Background
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To describe and characterize the work of independent complaint offices for users of psychiatric services and of ombudsmen in psychiatric hospitals.

Methods
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Nationwide survey addressed to all independent complaint offices and to all psychiatric hospitals in Germany.

Results
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The authors were able to identify N = 39 independent complaint offices. About 50% of the hospitals surveyed (N = 423) reported having a patient\'s advocate (\"Patientenfürsprecher\"). Both types of intercession agency rely mainly on volunteer service. While complaint offices are regularly staffed by psychiatry-experienced, their relatives and professionals, patient\'s advocates are often retired employees of the respective hospitals. Both types of such agencies deal with a variety of complaints.

Conclusion
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Implications of the results will be discussed with regard to differences and similarities of the different institutions.
