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Mental health in primary care

An epidemiological study of morbidity and use of health resources

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

José Luis Vázquez-Barquero ,
José Garcia ,
Jesús Artal Simón ,
Celso Iglesias ,
Javier Montejo ,
AndréS Herrán  and
Graham Dunn
José Luis Vázquez-Barquero*
Affiliation:
Clinical and Social Psychiatry Research Unit, University Hospital “Marqués de Valdecilla”, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
José Garcia
Affiliation:
Mental Health Services, Autonomous Community of the “Principado de Asturias”, Oviedo, Spain
Jesús Artal Simón
Affiliation:
Clinical and Social Psychiatry Research Unit, University Hospital “Marqués de Valdecilla”, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Celso Iglesias
Affiliation:
Mental Health Services, Autonomous Community of the “Principado de Asturias”, Oviedo, Spain
Javier Montejo
Affiliation:
Mental Health Services, Autonomous Community of the “Principado de Asturias”, Oviedo, Spain
AndréS Herrán
Affiliation:
Clinical and Social Psychiatry Research Unit, University Hospital “Marqués de Valdecilla”, University of Cantabria, Santander, Spain
Graham Dunn
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, London
*
Professor J.L. Vázquez-Barquero, Unidad de Investigación en Psiquiatría Clínicay Social. Hospital Universitario “Marqués de Valdecilla”. Av. Valdecilla s/n. Santander 39008, Spain
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Abstract

Background

The main objectives of the survey were: (a) to analyse the sociological, clinical and illness-related correlates of mental illness in primary care; (b) to study, during one-year follow-up, outcome and use of health resources.

Method

The survey comprised a two-phase cross-sectional study. In the first phase patients were classified using the GHQ-28 or by the general practitioner (GP). In the second phase they were assessed by the SCAN system.

Results

The prevalence rate of mental illness (in attenders) using the GHQ was 33.2%. The corresponding rate for the GP was 14.1%, and for the SCAN 31.5%. Mental illness mainly comprised depression, anxiety and alcohol-related diagnoses. The presence of mental illness and the use of health resources during follow-up were dependent on demographic characteristics and on their original psychiatric status.

Conclusions

In primary care, mental illness constitutes a major health problem. Despite this fact. GPs do not recognise a substantial proportion of these health problems.

Type
Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 170 , Issue 6 , June 1997 , pp. 529 - 535
Copyright
Copyright © 1997 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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