Are self-referrers just the worried well?--A cross-sectional study of self-referrers to community psycho-educational Stress and Self-Confidence workshops.
BACKGROUND
Reluctance to seek formal help has been seen as a major problem in trying to reduce the prevalence of anxiety and depression.


OBJECTIVE
The aims of this study were to assess the psychiatric status of those self-referring to psycho-educational Stress and Self-Confidence community workshops using a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach.


METHODS
Cross-sectional analysis of 196 people who referred themselves to community workshops was carried out using the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) psychiatric interview and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) scale self-report assessments.


RESULTS
Over 70% of all self-referrers had an ICD-10 diagnosis. Those without diagnoses had experienced recurrent significant psychological problems and 29.7% had never consulted their General Practitioner (GP) for anxiety/depression problems. Total CIS-R scores and white ethnic group best predicted previous GP consultation.


CONCLUSIONS
Setting up a self-referral system can enable those with diagnosable psychiatric problems, who may otherwise be reluctant to seek help, to come forward. This may have significant public mental health implications.
Brown
June S L
JS
Psychology Dept. (PO77), Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. june.brown@iop.kcl.ac.uk
Boardman
Jed
J
Elliott
Sandra A
SA
Howay
Elsa
E
Morrison
Joanna
J
D000328:Adult; D001007:Anxiety / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004493:Education / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005194:Family Practice; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008131:London; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012649:Self Concept; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology