title: Personality and perceived need for mental health care among primary care patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although there are many forms of effective, evidence-based treatments available to patients with mood and anxiety disorders, many do not seek any help. Certain personality characteristics are associated with increased use of mental health services. The objective of this study is to examine whether personality traits are also related to patients' perceived need for (specific types of) mental health care.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional data were derived from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). A total of 762 patients recruited from general practices, and who had been diagnosed with one or more DSM-IV diagnoses of anxiety and/or depression were included. Perceived need for mental health care was assessed with the Perceived Need for Care Questionnaire (PNCQ) and personality traits were assessed with the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI).
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found indications that personality traits, in particular neuroticism and openness to experience, have an impact on care needs. Patients with higher scores on these traits were more likely to have a perceived need for care, irrespective of whether or not this need was met. Extraversion, agreeableness and conscientiousness were largely unrelated to perceived need for care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Regardless of the severity of anxiety and depression, personality is associated with need for care. This seems to be true for neuroticism, openness to experience, agreeableness and conscientiousness. Associations with these domains were found for various types of treatment. These findings suggest that patients with different levels of personality traits need different treatments.
authors: Department of Clinical Psychology, VU University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands. wm.seekles@psy.vu.nl
authors: W M
authors: WM
authors: Seekles
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Cuijpers
authors: P
authors: P
authors: van de Ven
authors: B W J H
authors: BW
authors: Penninx
authors: P F M
authors: PF
authors: Verhaak
authors: A T F
authors: AT
authors: Beekman
authors: A
authors: A
authors: van Straten
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D010551:Personality; D011320:Primary Health Care; D055815:Young Adult