Comparisons between schizophrenia patients recruited from Australian general practices and public mental health services.
OBJECTIVE
To examine differences between samples of schizophrenia patients recruited from general practice and public mental health services.


METHODS
Demographic, psychosocial, disability and 12-month service utilization data are reported from a multicentered survey of psychotic disorders and an associated study of schizophrenia in general practice. Patients with schizophrenia from three recruitment sources (in-patient, community services, general practice) were compared.


RESULTS
General practice patients had fewer symptoms, better functioning, lower service use, but comparable substance abuse, to patients from mental health services. They were generally similar to community mental health patients, with the exception of family support, premorbid work adjustment, negative symptoms and disability. Service contact models are also reported which demonstrate that general practitioners deal with schizophrenia patients across the range of illness severity and acuity.


CONCLUSIONS
Recruitment source impacts in schizophrenia research need to be more carefully considered during sample selection and better accounted for in the interpretation of results.
Carr
Vaughan J
VJ
Discipline of Psychiatry, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia. vaughan.carr@hunter.health.nsw.gov.au
Lewin
Terry J
TJ
Barnard
Rosemary E
RE
Walton
Jane M
JM
Allen
Jennifer L
JL
Constable
Paul M
PM
Chapman
Jenny L
JL
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001315:Australia / Q000453:epidemiology; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006295:Health Resources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D028642:Persons with Psychiatric Disorders / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D018579:Patient Selection; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D012559:Schizophrenia / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors