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Psychiatric Morbidity in Primary Health Care in Santiago, Chile Preliminary Findings

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Ricardo Araya ,
Robert Wynn ,
Richard Leonard  and
Glyn Lewis
Ricardo Araya*
Affiliation:
Universidad de Chile Santiago
Robert Wynn
Affiliation:
London Hospital, London
Richard Leonard
Affiliation:
London Hospital, London
Glyn Lewis
Affiliation:
Institute of Psychiatry, University of London, and London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London
*
Dr Ricardo Araya, Profesor Asistente, Departamento de Salud Pública, Universidad de Chile, Condell 303, Santiago, Chile
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Abstract

Background

The aims were to determine the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among primary care attenders in a poor suburb of Santiago and to study the relationship with health service use.

Method

A cross-sectional survey was made of 163 consecutive attenders to a primary care clinic.

Results

Eleven per cent of the sample gave a psychological reason for consultation and the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was 53%, defined using the revised Clinical Interview Schedule. Women and those of lower socio-economic status were at higher risk. Physicians recognised 14% of the psychiatric morbidity. Attenders with psychiatric morbidity consulted more frequently.

Conclusions

There is a need to improve the recognition and management of psychiatric morbidity in primary care in Chile and other less developed countries. This could lead to the more efficient use of scarce health care resources in primary care.

Type
Short Papers
Information
The British Journal of Psychiatry , Volume 165 , Issue 4 , October 1994 , pp. 530 - 533
Copyright
Copyright © Royal College of Psychiatrists, 1994 

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