title: Barriers to reducing burden of affective disorders.
abstract: This paper summarizes 3 sets of barriers to reducing burden of affective disorders including factors that contribute to 1) the risk, course, and outcomes of affective disorders; 2) help-seeking and use of health and mental health services for affective and other mental disorders; and 3) the appropriateness of treatments used for affective disorders. On the basis of this review, the authors recommend research needed to identify modifiable barriers to reducing the burden of affective disorders and to identifying opportunities to reduce these barriers. This new research should focus on clarifying societal, family, and consumer, clinician, and system barriers to recognizing disorders, seeking and providing care, and adhering with guideline concordant care, and should include barriers that apply to both treatment and prevention services.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Westchester Division, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, 21 Bloomingdale Road, White Plains, New York 10605, USA. mbruce@med.cornell.edu
authors.forename: Martha L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Bruce
authors.forename: Kenneth B
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Wells
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miranda
authors.forename: Lydia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Junius L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000628:therapy; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012106:Research; D012923:Social Class; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology