Physicians' detection of psychological distress in primary-care clinics.
This study investigated the amount of psychological distress reported by 182 soldiers in the Israeli military and compared soldiers' self-ratings of distress with ratings by military physicians of observed distress. Comparisons indicated a low detection rate by physicians with only 13% of self-reported cases of emotional distress identified. This and several related findings were taken to indicate shortcomings in medical care. Possible remedies include additional psychiatric training for military physicians, less frequent rotation of physicians to allow for more stable care, and the initiation of mental health education among soldiers.
Maoz
B
B
Psychiatric Department, Soroka Medical Center, Beersheva, Israel.
Rabinowitz
S
S
Mark
M
M
Antonovsky
H
H
Ribak
J
J
Kotler
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000342:Affective Symptoms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology