Neurotic disorders and the receipt of psychiatric treatment.
BACKGROUND
Access to psychiatric treatment by people with neurotic disorders in the general population is likely to be affected both by the severity of disorder and by sociodemographic differences.


METHODS
In the household component of the National Surveys of Psychiatric Morbidity > 10,000 subjects in Great Britain with psychiatric symptoms were interviewed using the CIS-R. They were also asked about difficulties experienced in performing seven types of everyday activity. All subjects classed as having an ICD-10 disorder were questioned about their experience of treatment with antidepressants, hypnotics, and counselling or psychotherapy.


RESULTS
Less than 14% of people with current neurotic disorders were receiving treatment for them. Within the previous year, only a third had made contact with their primary care physician for their mental problem: of these < 30% were receiving treatment. Overall, 9% of people with disorders were given medication and 8% counselling or psychotherapy. A diagnosis of depressive episode was that most associated with antidepressant medication. Treatment access was affected by employment status, marital status, and age, but the major determinant was symptom severity. Neither sex nor social class influenced which people received treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
People with psychiatric disorders seldom receive treatment, even when they have consulted their primary care physician about them. In many cases, this must represent unmet needs with a strong claim on health resources. There are also inequalities in the receipt of treatment, although the major influence is the severity of disorder.
Bebbington
P E
PE
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences, RF & UCL Medical School, Institute of Psychiatry and Office for National Statistics, London.
Brugha
T S
TS
Meltzer
H
H
Jenkins
R
R
Ceresa
C
C
Farrell
M
M
Lewis
G
G
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D011619:Psychotropic Drugs