title: Trends in service use and treatment for mental disorders in adults throughout Great Britain.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Trends in health treatments and outcomes in the general population may be used to monitor achievement of health targets.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To investigate changes in mental health services and treatment in Britain over a 7-year period.
  
  
  METHODS
  National surveys of psychiatric morbidity were completed in 1993 and 2000 in households throughout Great Britain. Standardised interviews were used to establish psychiatric case status and service and treatment utilisation in adults aged 16-64 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Use of psychotropic medication doubled in those designated as psychiatric cases. In the non-case-status population antidepressant use rose from 0.16% in 1993 (95% CI 0.07-0.25) to 2.02% in 2000 (95% CI 1.69-2.35). However, the overall prevalence of neurotic and psychotic disorder hardly changed from 1993 to 2000. Use of specialised 'talking treatments'did not increase significantly, except in the non-case group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Treatment with psychotropic medication alone is unlikely to improve the overall mental health of the nation. A policy based almost exclusively on treatment of identified cases should be augmented by preventive approaches.
authors.affiliation: Brandon Mental Health Unit, Department of Health Sciences, Leicester General Hospital, Gwendolen Road, Leicester LE5 4PW, UK. tsb@le.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Traolach S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Brugha
authors.forename: Paul E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Bebbington
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Singleton
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Melzer
authors.forename: Rachel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Glyn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lewis
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Farrell
authors.forename: Dinesh
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bhugra
authors.forename: Alison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Howard
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Meltzer
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003376:Counseling; D005194:Family Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011613:Psychotherapy / Q000379:methods; D006113:United Kingdom