Mental health care use in the Spanish general population. Results of the ESEMeD-Spain study

Abstract

Introduction. Between 17% and 30% of the world population suffers from a mental disorder in a given year and only a small proportion of them established contact with health services. This information is not available concerning the Spanish population. This study aims to describe the health services utilization related with mental disorders in Spain, as well as to identify factors related with such utilization.

Methods. The ESEMeD-Spain is an epidemiological study carried out on a representative sample of the Spanish adult general population, with a sample size of 5,473 individuals. We used the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (version 3.0) to collect information concerning mental disorders symptoms, health services utilization related with mental health, and administered treatments, with a 12 months time frame.

Results. 57% of those suffering from a mood disorder, 30.3% of those suffering from an anxiety disorder and 71.7% of those suffering from both contacted health services in the year they suffered the disorder. Psychiatrists were the most frequently consulted professionals when a 12 month mental disorder was present, with the exception of anxiety disorders or comorbid mood-anxiety disorders. A 30.8% of those with any 12 month mental disorder who did consult were not prescribed with any treatment. Variables significantly related to 12 month health services utilization were age, gender, marital status, and mental disorders.

Conclusions. A large proportion of individuals suffering from mental disorders do not use health services or, if indeed use them, do not receive any type of treatment.