title: [Utilization of health services in Puerto Rico of persons with mental disorders].
abstract: As part of a major study on the prevalence of mental disorders in Puerto Rico, this paper describes the mental health care utilization patterns of persons with a Diagnostic Interview Schedule (DIS) disorder within the last year. The main findings of this analysis show that a) there is a high rate of health service utilization, b) the public sector is the main provider of services c) persons with a DIS disorder use more the non psychiatric physician d) those with alcohol abuse and/or dependence tend to use more the services of general practitioners while schizophrenics, somatizers and those with cognitive impairment use more the services of mental health specialists. The use of other resources such as clergy or spiritualists do not substitute the use of health services.
authors.affiliation: Escuela de Salud Pública, Universidad de Puerto Rico, San Juan 00936-5067.
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Martínez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sesman Rodríguez
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bravo
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Canino
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rubio-Stipec
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000628:therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010821:Physicians, Family; D011570:Psychiatry; D011647:Puerto Rico; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000628:therapy
vernacular_title: Utilización de servicios de salud en Puerto Rico por personas con trastornos mentales.