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The Prevalence of Chronic Psychiatric Morbidity

A Community Sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

Brian Stanley*
Affiliation:
Stanley Royd Hospital, Aberford Road, Wakefield, West Yorkshire
Andrew J. Gibson
Affiliation:
Broadgate Hospital, Beverley, North Humberside
*
Correspondence

Summary

Several studies have commented upon the false negatives which can result when the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ) is employed as a community screening device for psychological distress. It would appear that some false negatives are the result of individual or cultural factors, whilst others result from the phrasing of the GHQ questions, which may mislead patients suffering from chronic disorders. This paper reports the use of additional questions, designed to detect such chronicity.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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