title: MDQ positive people's searching for effective and ineffective treatments for bipolar disorders: a screening study in France.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective was to estimate the rate of subjects who tested positive at a screening for bipolar disorders among the people insured by a French Health Company, and subsequently to measure treatment patterns.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional postal survey on the "Mutuelle Générale de l'Education Nationale" (MGEN) policyholders. A self-rated questionnaire was sent by mail to 20,099 individuals randomly selected among MGEN policyholders. Tools: questionnaire on socio-demographic variables and health-care use; Mood Disorder Questionnaire (MDQ); Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form Self-Administered (CIDI-SA).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Responders were 10,288 (53%). The prevalence of MDQ positivity (MDQ(+)) was 3.6%. The respondents older than 65 showed the lowest frequencies. High frequencies were recorded by the people who had left work because of long term sickness and by people with invalidity. Subjects having a diagnosis of ICD-10 major depression were found to be at risk. Positive subjects had no more contacts with general practitioners than negative subjects; on the contrary they had more contacts with psychiatrists, alternative medicine professionals, psychologists, psychoanalysts, spiritual guides or welfare workers. MDQ+ subjects had a higher risk to use all kinds of psychodrugs, including antidepressants (27.7%, OR=2.7, CI95% 1.9-3.9).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The prevalence of MDQ(+) was similar to the surveys in the USA and Italy. The use of ADs in people with MDQ(+) and MDD diagnosis needs to be taken into account when managing the public health-care system. A large rate of positive subjects reported to have used ineffective treatments for bipolar disorders.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relative low response rate and observational design.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health and Clinical and Molecular Medicine, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy. mgcarta@tiscali.it
authors.forename: Mauro Giovanni
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Carta
authors.forename: Fausta
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zairo
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saphino
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sevilla-Dedieu
authors.forename: Maria Francesca
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Moro
authors.forename: Davide
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Massidda
authors.forename: Viviane
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Kovess
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001714:Bipolar Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents