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Patients' and health professionals' views on primary care for people with serious mental illness: focus group study
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OBJECTIVE: To explore the experience of providing and receiving primary care from the perspectives of primary care health professionals and patients with serious mental illness respectively. DESIGN: Qualitative study consisting of six patient groups, six health professional groups, and six combined focus groups. SETTING: Six primary care trusts in the West Midlands. PARTICIPANTS: Forty five patients with serious mental illness, 39 general practitioners (GPs), and eight practice nurses. RESULTS: Most health professionals felt that the care of people with serious mental illness was too specialised for primary care. However, most patients viewed primary care as the cornerstone of their health care and preferred to consult their own GP, who listened and was willing to learn, rather than be referred to a different GP with specific mental health knowledge. Swift access was important to patients, with barriers created by the effects of the illness and the noisy or crowded waiting area. Some patients described how they exaggerated symptoms ("acted up") to negotiate an urgent appointment, a strategy that was also employed by some GPs to facilitate admission to secondary care. Most participants felt that structured reviews of care had value. However, whereas health professionals perceived serious mental illness as a lifelong condition, patients emphasised the importance of optimism in treatment and hope for recovery. CONCLUSIONS: Primary care is of central importance to people with serious mental illness. The challenge for health professionals and patients is to create a system in which patients can see a health professional when they want to without needing to exaggerate their symptoms. The importance that patients attach to optimism in treatment, continuity of care, and listening skills compared with specific mental health knowledge should encourage health professionals in primary care to play a greater role in the care of patients with serious mental illness.
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“General practitioners (GPs), serving as the frontline of healthcare, undertake a significant responsibility of diagnosing and treating a large number of patients with mental health conditions”
From Exploring patient experiences with a mindfulness course in a general practice setting: a qualitative study. (2025) · cites this paper as [6]
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“GPs call for additional resources and support in managing and dedicating time to assist these patients, often feeling less equipped in comparison with their experience in treating patients with physical illnesses [6–9].”
From Exploring patient experiences with a mindfulness course in a general practice setting: a qualitative study. (2025) · cites this paper as [6]
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“Non-psychiatrist providers may also lack experience in treating mental illnesses, which requires the need for adequate cooperation between non-psychiatrists and psychiatrists (25).”
BackgroundCook, J. Α., Razzano, L. A., Swarbrick, M. A., Jonikas, J. A., Yost, C., Burke, L., Steigman, P. J., & Santos, A. B. (2015) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0123552 · Cited by 30
Cunningham, R., Imlach, F., Haitana, T., Every‐Palmer, S., Lacey, C. J., Lockett, H., & Peterson, D. (2023) · Frontiers in Psychiatry · doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1285431 · Cited by 29
“(W, 26–35) Poor treatment of the”
Sinding, C., Watt, L., Miller, P., Silliker, J., Lawson, L., Kislinsky, C., Stanzlik-Elliot, C. L., O'Neill, J., Pereira, J., & McGillicuddy, P. (2013) · Social Work in Mental Health · doi:10.1080/15332985.2012.758075 · Cited by 29
“This is a finding consistent with many other studies (Viron & Stern, 2010), including studies in which patients were interviewed (Lester et al., 2005; Leutwyler & Wallhagen, 2010).”
BackgroundResultRuud, T., Aarre, T. F., Boeskov, B., Husvåg, P. S., Klepp, R., Kristiansen, S. A., & Sandvik, J. (2016) · International Journal of Mental Health Systems · doi:10.1186/s13033-016-0064-8 · Cited by 28
“According to patients and health professionals, GPs are important for patients with SMI [5].”
BackgroundO’Loughlin, E., Hourihan, S. J., Chataway, J., Playford, E. D., & Riazi, A. (2016) · Disability and Rehabilitation · doi:10.1080/09638288.2016.1211760 · Cited by 28
“A growing body of qualitative literature in healthcare has explored the perspectives of HPs in combination with those of patients in examining the issues faced by patients and healthcare services [19, 20, 21, 22, 23].”
BackgroundStumbo, S. P., Yarborough, B. J. H., Yarborough, M. T., & Green, C. (2018) · American Journal of Health Promotion · doi:10.1177/0890117118763233 · Cited by 26
“Quality preventive care delivery begins with the relationship between primary care providers (PCPs) and patients,(14-16) and this may be especially true for individuals with serious mental illnesses who see the relationship with their PCP as critical to their health.(17) The current analyses were part of a larger mixe…”
Cerimele, J. M., Fortney, J. C., Pyne, J. M., & Curran, G. M. (2018) · Family Practice · doi:10.1093/fampra/cmy019 · Cited by 34
“A prior study found that primary care patients with serious mental illness including bipolar disorder reported expecting ‘good enough’ primary care including treatment with psychotropic medication and a consistent relationship with a primary care clinician who could access psychiatrists for advice as needed (30).”
BackgroundImproving the physical health of people with severe mental illness
Silverwood, V., Chew-Graham, C. A., & Shiers, D. (2019) · InnovAiT Education and inspiration for general practice · doi:10.1177/1755738018823800 · Cited by 26
“Reporting a focus group study, Professor Lester describes how people with SMI regard primary care as the cornerstone of their physical and mental health care, valuing the continuity and holistic approach (Lester et al., 2005) reflected by their annual consultation rates of about 13 per year.”
BackgroundNash, M. (2014) · Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/jpm.12140 · Cited by 26
“Research suggests that health-care professionals find difficulty diagnosing physical complaints once a mental health disorder had been diagnosed (Lester et al. 2005).”
BackgroundBrowne, J., Mihas, P., & Penn, D. L. (2015) · Community Mental Health Journal · doi:10.1007/s10597-015-9896-y · Cited by 29
“Focus groups have been successfully utilized in research involving individuals with SMI and mental health providers (Aschbrenner et al. 2013; Happell et al. 2012; Lester et al. 2005; Mason and Holt 2012; McDevitt et al. 2006; McKibbin et al. 2014).”
MethodThe global mental health assessment tool-validation in hindi: A validity and feasibility study
Sharma, V. K., Jagawat, S., Midha, A., Jain, A., Tambi, A., Mangwani, L., Sharma, B., Dubey, P., Satija, V., Copeland, J. R. M., et al. (2010) · Indian Journal of Psychiatry · doi:10.4103/0019-5545.74305 · Cited by 26
“[1] A vast majority of people with mental disorders including with severe mental illness view primary care as the cornerstone of their health care system.[2] It takes about six years to train a doctor and a further 6 years to train as a psychiatrist.”
BackgroundMaragakis, A., Siddharthan, R. V., RachBeisel, J. A., & Snipes, C. (2015) · Primary Health Care Research & Development · doi:10.1017/s1463423615000523 · Cited by 25
Serious Mental Illness and the Role of Primary Care
Planner, C., Gask, L., & Reilly, S. (2014) · Current Psychiatry Reports · doi:10.1007/s11920-014-0458-8 · Cited by 28
Use of GP services by patients with schizophrenia: a national cross-sectional register-based study
Hetlevik, Ø., Solheim, M. H., & Gjesdal, S. (2015) · BMC Health Services Research · doi:10.1186/s12913-015-0719-1 · Cited by 24
“A good relationship with a GP and stable cooperation with the local healthcare services can improve social participation and quality of life, and increase survival among patients [2,22,24,26].”
BackgroundBirchwood, M. J., PETERS, E. R., Tarrier, N., Dunn, G., Lewis, S. W., Wykes, T., Davies, L. M., Lester, H. E., & Michail, M. (2011) · BMC Psychiatry · doi:10.1186/1471-244x-11-155 · Cited by 26
Self-citationSharma, V. K., Lepping, P., Krishna, M., Durrani, S., Copeland, J. R. M., Mottram, P. G., Parhee, R., Quinn, B. N. E., Lane, S., & Cummins, A. (2008) · British Journal of General Practice · doi:10.3399/bjgp08x299218 · Cited by 25
“A vast majority of people with mental disorders, including those with severe mental illness, view primary care as the cornerstone of their healthcare system.(2) In the modern NHS, GPs and other primary care workers are expected to identify and assess the mental health needs of their patients, and to manage common ABST…”
BackgroundEarly intervention in psychosis: keeping the body in mind
Shiers, D., Jones, P. B., & Field, S. (2009) · British Journal of General Practice · doi:10.3399/bjgp09x420888 · Cited by 24
“GPs are often more comfortable discussing physical than mental health issues with patients with psychosis, seeing that as their core role.(24) Primary care and specialist mental health clinicians could work together to provide clear and consistent information to help patients understand and weigh the benefits and risk…”
BackgroundSilverman, M. J. (2016) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2016.01569 · Cited by 24
“In a qualitative investigation, outpatients with serious mental illnesses emphasized the importance of hope for recovery as well as practitioner optimism in treatment (Lester et al., 2005).”
BackgroundExploring the value of mental health nurses working in primary care in England: A qualitative study
McLeod, K., & Simpson, A. (2017) · Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing · doi:10.1111/jpm.12400 · Cited by 24
Reforming the Portuguese mental health system: an incentive-based approach
Perelman, J., Chaves, P., Caldas‐de‐Almeida, J. M., & Matias, M. A. (2018) · International Journal of Mental Health Systems · doi:10.1186/s13033-018-0204-4 · Cited by 24
“For example, a focus group with general practitioners (GPs), conducted in the UK, observed that “serious mental illness (is) too specialized for routine primary care and felt they lacked sufficient skills and knowledge” [8].”
BackgroundStudying Stress in the Twenty-First-Century: An Update of Stress Concepts and Research
Wheaton, B., & Montazer, S. (2017) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316471289.013 · Cited by 24
Metadata
- Authors
- Lester, H., Tritter, J. Q., & Sorohan, H.
- Affiliations
- University of Birmingham (GB)
- University of Warwick (GB)
- University College Birmingham (GB)
- ORCID
- Tritter, Jonathan Q
- Venue
- BMJ
- Publisher
- BMJ
- Published
- 2005-04-20
- Volume
- 330
- Issue
- 7500
- Pages
- 1122
- ISSN
- 0007-1447 (ISSN-L)
- 0959-8138
- 1468-5833
- PMC
- PMC557894
- OpenAlex
- W1822286663
- Cited by
- 339
- References
- 29
- Citations by year
- 2026: 5 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 11 · 2022: 5 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 11 · 2019: 15 · 2018: 28 · 2017: 52 · 2016: 13 · 2015: 20 · 2014: 21 · 2013: 15 · 2012: 32
- FWCI
- 12.34
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- BMJ (publishedVersion)
- Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Warwick Research Archive Portal (University of Warwick) (acceptedVersion)
- HighWire Press Open Archive (submittedVersion)
- Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (submittedVersion)
- University of Birmingham Research Portal (University of Birmingham) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychiatric care and mental health services
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Family Practice › Primary Care and Health Outcomes
- Keywords
- severe mental illness, primary care, patient perspectives, health professional perspectives, general practitioners, practice nurses, health care access, waiting time, symptom exaggeration, secondary care referral, continuity of care, listening skills
- MeSH terms
- Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Attitude of Health Personnel, Attitude to Health, Mental Disorders, Chronic Disease, Female, Health Services Accessibility, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Nurse Practitioners, Physicians, Family, Primary Health Care, Focus Groups
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