The prevalence of common mental and substance use disorders in general practice: a literature review and discussion paper

Abstract

Enhanced primary care management of common mental and substance use disorders is a key healthcare target. Though primary care may be well placed to achieve this target, a greater understanding of the prevalence and profile of common mental and substance use disorders in primary care settings is needed. We searched the MEDLINE database (2002)(2003)(2004)(2005)(2006)(2007)(2008)(2009)(2010)(2011)(2012) to provide an update on biomedical literature describing the prevalence of common mental and substance use disorders in European general practice. Following 'PRISMA' guidelines, seventeen studies were kept for qualitative synthesis. Prevalence, profile, screening instruments, associated co-morbidities and gender distribution were tabulated. Depending on the screening method, the prevalence of common mental and substance use disorders ranged from 10.4% (Luxemburg) to 53.6% (Spain). Mood disorders were the most common. High co-morbidity with anxiety and somatisation hindered early identification and management.The continuing burden of common mental and substance use disorders, coupled with poor identification described in the updated EU biomedical literature, suggests that the unmet need for health care -identified by the World Health Organization a decade ago -remains unmet.Understanding prevalence of common mental and substance use disorders, associated morbidity, and the extent to which general practice represents an important catchment mechanism, can enhance their management at this level. General practitioners should be trained in accurate screening. Short screening instruments for general practitioners should be unified and promoted.

Listado de síntomas breve (short checklist of symptoms) in Argentinean adults: psychometric study of its main clinical scales

“…Lastly, when comparing scales to assess which symptoms were more recurrent, a within-subjects ANOVA indicated that: obsessive-compulsive was the most frequent type of symptoms, followed by Sleep disturbance, then depression and hostility -with no differences between themnext, Somatization and Hypersensitivity; and finally, anxiety. This finding partially reproduces previous results where anxiety and mood disorders are concluded to be the most prevalent (Akihiro et al, 2015;Aillon et al, 2014;Caparrós Caparrós et al, 2007;Casullo, 2004;Chadda, 2015;González de Rivera et al, 1999;Kessler et al, 2005;Klimas, Neary, McNicholas, Meagher, & Cullen, 2014;Patel & Stein, 2015;Sánchez & Ledesma, 2009 ders. Also, it is interesting that Sleep disturbance had such a relevant place being the second most informed set of symptoms.…”

“…Regardless of the wealth or culture of the population, when studying the prevalence of mental health disorders, anxiety and/or mood disorders -such as obsessive-compulsive, general anxiety, and depressive symptoms -arise as the most frequent mental ailments (Akihiro et al, 2015;Aillon et al, 2014;Caparrós Caparrós, Villar Hoz, Juan Ferrer, & Viñas Poch, 2007;Casullo, 2004;Chadda, 2015;González de Rivera et al, 1999;Kessler et al, 2005;Klimas, Neary, McNicholas, Meagher, & Cullen, 2014;Patel & Stein, 2015;Sánchez & Ledesma, 2009;The ESEMeD/MHEDEA 2000Investigators et al, 2004Stylianidis, Pantelidou, Chondros, Roelandt, & Barbato, 2014). Therefore, they have been labelled as common mental disorders (Chadda, 2015;Goldberg & Huxley, 1992).…”

Development and implementation of a ‘Mental Health Finder’ software tool within an electronic medical record system

“…Prevalence rates for mental health and substance use problems in practices in this study (ranging from 6.9-12.7%) are lower than estimates in population-based surveys [1] and studies using screening instruments in primary care [5]. [23].…”

“…Because of its longitudinal nature, general practice can offer ongoing support and mental health promotion [4], and is arguably more accessible and less stigmatising than specialist mental health services. A recent review of the prevalence of mental disorders among patients attending general practice in the EU highlighted the high prevalence (point, period and lifetime) of these conditions and suggested a greater understanding of their prevalence, profile, associated co-morbidity and treatment is needed to enhance the capacity of primary care to effectively help those at risk of mental and substance use disorders [5].…”

Relação entre uso de substâncias e qualidade de vida em uma amostra comunitária de adultos

“…Psychoactive substances somehow alter the user's state of consciousness (Seibel, 2010). Continued use and abuse of these substances are related to the occurrence of various events in people's lives, such as health impairments and involvement in accidents (Baylen & Rosenberg, 2006;Gramenzi et al, 2006;Van Dyke & Fillmore, 2015;Waziry, Jawad, Ballout, Al Akel, & Akl, 2016;Zador, Krawchuk, & Voas, 2000), psychopathological conditions (Davis, Uezato, Newell, & Frazier, 2008;Klimas, Neary, McNicholas, Meagher, & Cullen, 2014;Sher & Trull, 2002), interpersonal violence (Choenni, Hammink, & van de Mheen, 2015;Shorey, Stuart, & Cornelius, 2011) and social, labor, and academic impairments (Galea, Nandi, & Vlahov, 2004). Because of the negative effects in various areas of life, substance use can impact people's overall quality of life (QoL), that is, people's integrated assessment of their goals, values, resources, and experiences (Machado & Bandeira, 2012;Orley & Kuyken, 1993).…”