DETERMINANTS OF THE HELP-SEEKING PROCESS - GOLDBERG AND HUXLEYS FIRSTLEVEL AND FIRST FILTER

Authors
Citation
Pfm. Verhaak, DETERMINANTS OF THE HELP-SEEKING PROCESS - GOLDBERG AND HUXLEYS FIRSTLEVEL AND FIRST FILTER, Psychological medicine, 25(1), 1995, pp. 95-104
Citations number
30
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology, Clinical",Psychiatry,Psychology,Psychiatry
Journal title
ISSN journal
00332917
Volume
25
Issue
1
Year of publication
1995
Pages
95 - 104
Database
ISI
SICI code
0033-2917(1995)25:1<95:DOTHP->2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
This paper discusses minor psychiatric morbidity in the community and its relation to help-seeking. The research is aimed at identifying the demographic and social characteristics that enhance the likelihood of minor psychiatric morbidity, as measured by the General Health Questi onnaire, and to reveal how these determinants relate to health status. In the second stage of the study, the same characteristics are relate d to their effect on the decision to consult a general practitioner an d, more specifically, on presenting psyche-social problems to the GP. At the population level, the likelihood of a high GHQ score was greate r for women, divorced persons and the unemployed, other variables rema ining equal. However, GHQ score was contaminated by poor subjective he alth perception, especially for unemployed persons. Chronic physical i llness did not have an independent effect on the GHQ score. Chronic ph ysical illness did influence help-seeking. In addition, several socio- demographic characteristics showed an independent effect on consulting behaviour for both GHQ-positive and GHQ-negative patients. Women, une mployed persons and publicly insured patients with a minor psychiatric disturbance were more apt to visit their GP, regardless of their phys ical health status. However, no socio-demographic characteristics incr eased the likelihood that a GHQ-positive patient would present unambig uous psyche-social complaints as a reason to see their doctor.