The long and complex road in the search for treatment for mental disorders: An analysis of the process in five groups of patients.
Seeking treatment for mental-health problems is a complex process, with different underlying motives in each stage. However, the entire process and these motives have hardly been investigated. This study aims to analyze the different stages of the help-seeking process and their underlying motives in five groups of patients with different mental disorders. In all, 156 patients seeking treatment in outpatient mental health clinics were individually interviewed: 71 had Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), 21 had Agoraphobia (AGO), 18 had Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), 20 had Anorexia Nervosa (AN), and 22 had Cocaine Dependence (COC). The AGO and MDD patients delayed significantly less time in recognizing their mental health symptoms. Moreover, MDD patients disclosed their symptoms and searched for professional help faster than the other groups. The most relevant variables in the recognition of disorders were the loss of control over the symptoms, the interference produced by these symptoms, and their negative impact on the person's emotional state. The most frequent barriers to seeking treatment were related to minimizing the symptoms and fear of stigma. Finally, the most important motivator for seeking treatment was the awareness that minimizing the symptoms did not help to reduce them, lessen their interference, or make them disappear.
Agencia Valenciana de Salud (Health Government of Valencia), Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, Department 04, Sants de la Pedra Ave., n. 81, 46500 Sagunto, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: delvalle_gem@gva.es.
Gema
G
Del Valle
Faculty of Psychology, Department of Personality Psychology, Research and Treatment Unit of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, I'TOC, University of Valencia, Ave. Blasco Ibañez 21, 46010 Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: amparo.belloch@uv.es.
Amparo
A
Belloch
Agencia Valenciana de Salud (Health Government of Valencia), Mental Health Outpatient Clinic, Department 06, Rubert i Villo Rd., n. 4, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain. Electronic address: carrio_car@gva.es.
Carmen
C
Carrió
D000328:Adult; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000523:psychology; D000856:Anorexia Nervosa / Q000523:psychology; D001294:Attitude to Health; D019970:Cocaine-Related Disorders / Q000523:psychology; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D000066505:Help-Seeking Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009771:Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder / Q000523:psychology; D057545:Social Stigma; D061665:Time-to-Treatment