Personality correlates of outpatient mental health service utilization: findings from the U.S. national comorbidity survey.
OBJECTIVE
The present paper investigated the relationships between several personality constructs and the use of outpatient mental health services.


METHODS
Respondents were from the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) Part II data set and included those with a past-year mood, anxiety, alcohol/substance use disorder (n=1750). Bivariate logistic regressions were used to examine associations between participants' self-reports of personality traits and outpatient mental health service utilization. Similar multivariate analyses were used to investigate these associations after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and the presence of psychiatric disorders and their comorbidity.


RESULTS
The bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed significant positive associations between outpatient mental health service utilization and both Powerful Others Locus of Control and Self-criticism.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that personality traits may play a role in treatment seeking behaviors for mental health problems over and above the presence of psychiatric disorders alone. The assessment of relevant personality constructs has the potential to inform and improve treatment outreach efforts.
Department of Psychology, Acadia University, Wolfville, NS, Canada. Lachlan.McWilliams@acadiau.ca
Lachlan A
LA
McWilliams
Brian J
BJ
Cox
Murray W
MW
Enns
Ian P
IP
Clara
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D017831:Diagnosis, Dual (Psychiatry); D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D019964:Mood Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D010554:Personality Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology