Pfm. Verhaak, DETERMINANTS OF THE HELP-SEEKING PROCESS - GOLDBERG AND HUXLEYS FIRSTLEVEL AND FIRST FILTER, Psychological medicine, 25(1), 1995, pp. 95-104
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.