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Cited by 65Mental Health Treatment and AccessChild and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional DevelopmentPsychology and Mental Health

The identification of young people's emotional distress: a study in primary care

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Haller, Dagmar M, Sanci, Lena A, Sawyer, Susan M, Patton, George C·2009·British Journal of General Practice
DOI 10.3399/bjgp09x419510PMC PMC2648934
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Primary care is a key step in young people's pathway to mental health care. Despite the high prevalence of mental disorder in this age group, little is known about the factors that determine the identification of young people's mental disorder in primary care. AIM: To provide a detailed description of the factors associated with both 'correct' and 'excessive' identification of youth mental disorder in primary care. DESIGN OF THE STUDY: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Twenty-six randomly selected general practices in Victoria, Australia. METHOD: Consecutive young people (16-24 years) were interviewed before their consultation, using a semi-structured interview. They completed Kessler's scale of emotional distress (K10). GPs completed a questionnaire after the consultation. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the factors associated with GP identification of mental disorder in those with high and low probability of disorder on the K10. RESULTS: Altogether, 450/501 (90%) of approached young people participated; 36.1% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 32.3 to 40.2%) had high probability of mental disorder on the K10. Young people's perception that they had a mental illness was highly associated with GP identification (odds ratio [OR] = 62.6, 95% CI = 22.8 to 172.0). Other significantly associated factors were: patient fears (OR = 2.4, 95% CI = 1.1 to 5.1), frequent consultations (OR = 3.0, 95% CI = 1.0 to 8.4), days out of role (OR = 2.7, 95% CI = 1.2 to 5.7), and continuity of care (OR = 3.4, 95% CI = 1.6 to 6.9). The latter two were also associated with 'over-identification' of young people who had low probability of mental disorder. GP characteristics were not associated with identification. CONCLUSION: These findings provide guidance for GPs in their clinical work and training. They should also inform the further development of mental health literacy programmes in the community.

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  • Negative attitudes towards people living with depression, and stigma and discrimination, are associated across several world regions with negative outcomes: low help-seeking, poor treatment adherence and poor treatment outcomes, low quality of life, and risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour.

    “Negative attitudes towards people living with depression, and stigma and discrimination, are associated across several world regions with negative outcomes: low help-seeking, poor treatment adherence and poor treatment outcomes, low quality of life, and risk of suicidal thoughts and behaviour. 339-341”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [339]

  • Health workers across the world, including those in low- and middle-income countries, acknowledge stigma toward people with depression.

    “Health workers across the world, including those in low- and middle-income countries, acknowledge stigma toward people with depression. 339,397”

    From Time for united action on depression: a Lancet–World Psychiatric Association Commission (2022) · cites this paper as [339]

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Sanci LA, Coffey CM, Veit FC, et al. Evaluation of the effectiveness of an educational intervention for general practitioners in adolescent health care: randomised controlled trial. BMJ 2000; 320(7229): 224-230.
  2. Kessler D, Lloyd K, Lewis G, Gray DP. Cross sectional study of symptom attribution and recognition of depression and anxiety in primary care. BMJ 1999; 318(7181): 436-439.
  3. The MaGPIe Research Group. The effectiveness of case-finding for mental health problems in primary care. Br J Gen Pract 2005; 55: 665-669.

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Authors
Haller, D. M., Sanci, L. A., Sawyer, S. M., & Patton, G. C.
Affiliations
University of Geneva (CH)
ORCID
Venue
British Journal of General Practice
Publisher
Royal College of General Practitioners
Published
2009-03-01
Volume
59
Issue
560
Pages
e61-e70
ISSN
  • 0960-1643 (ISSN-L)
  • 1478-5242
DOI
10.3399/bjgp09x419510
PMC
PMC2648934
OpenAlex
W2063595656
Cited by
65
References
49
Citations by year
2026: 1 · 2025: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 4 · 2017: 2 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 10 · 2013: 7 · 2012: 9
FWCI
10.01
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • British Journal of General Practice (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Schweizerischer Nationalfonds zur Förderung der Wissenschaftlichen Forschung
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Psychology and Mental Health
Keywords
youth mental health, emotional distress, general practitioners, primary care, over-identification, continuity of care, mental health literacy, youth, Kessler K10
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Attitude to Health, Mental Disorders, Epidemiologic Methods, Family Practice, Female, Humans, Male, Psychiatric Status Rating Scales, Socioeconomic Factors, Victoria, Young Adult

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