title: Mental disorders and referrals to mental health specialists by general practitioners.
abstract: In a population study we analysed psychiatric help-seeking directed to general practitioners (GPs) and looked at who was referred to and received treatment from psychiatrists or psychologists. A random sample of 2015 persons were interviewed on a large number of variables, of which five groups were used in logistic regression analysis to find what accounted for (1) help-seeking addressed to GPs, (2) prior (not during the last 12 months) referral from GPs to, and treatment from, a psychiatrist or psychologist, and (3) current specialist referral/treatment (referral to/treatment from a psychiatrist/psychologist in the last 12 months). A total of 38 variables were covered in the areas of demographics, social support, life events and general well-being, and mental health (HSCL-25), with six personality-related variables. The conclusions are: (1) The strongest predictor of former and current help-seeking was high current symptom rating (HSCL-25). (2) Demographic variables played a limited role in explaining help-seeking. (3) Personality-related variables played a more important role in the referral/treatment groups than most demographic variables. Compared with those not being referred, people currently seeing or having seen a psychiatrist/psychologist described themselves as easily worried, but at the same time having an attitude of speaking out and of not accepting a below-par life situation.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005194:Family Practice / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011897:Random Allocation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012944:Social Support