Prevalence and treatment of common mental disorders in the English national population, 1993-2007

Nicola Spiers; Tarik Qassem; Paul Bebbington; Sally McManus; Michael King; Rachel Jenkins; Howard Meltzer; Traolach S Brugha

doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.115.174979

Prevalence and treatment of common mental disorders in the English national population, 1993-2007

Br J Psychiatry. 2016 Aug;209(2):150-6. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.115.174979. Epub 2016 Jun 9.

Authors

Nicola Spiers¹, Tarik Qassem¹, Paul Bebbington¹, Sally McManus¹, Michael King¹, Rachel Jenkins¹, Howard Meltzer¹, Traolach S Brugha²

Affiliations

¹ Nicola Spiers, PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; Tarik Qassem, MD, Division of Mental Health and Well-being, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK, and Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, and Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, West Bromwich, UK; Paul Bebbington, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen for Social Research, London, UK; Michael King, PhD, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Rachel Jenkins, FRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College, London, UK; Howard Meltzer (deceased), PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; Traolach S. Brugha, FRCPsych, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leciester; UK.
² Nicola Spiers, PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK; Tarik Qassem, MD, Division of Mental Health and Well-being, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK, and Okasha Institute of Psychiatry, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt, and Black Country Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, West Bromwich, UK; Paul Bebbington, PhD, FRCP, FRCPsych, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Sally McManus, MSc, NatCen for Social Research, London, UK; Michael King, PhD, Division of Psychiatry, Faculty of Brain Sciences, University College London, London, UK; Rachel Jenkins, FRCPsych, Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College, London, UK; Howard Meltzer (deceased), PhD, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leicester; Traolach S. Brugha, FRCPsych, Department of Health Sciences, University of Leicester, Leciester; UK tsb@le.ac.uk.

PMID: 27284080
DOI: 10.1192/bjp.bp.115.174979

Abstract

Background: The National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys include English cross-sectional household samples surveyed in 1993, 2000 and 2007.

Aims: To evaluate frequency of common mental disorders (CMDs), service contact and treatment.

Method: Common mental disorders were identified with the Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised (CIS-R). Service contact and treatment were established in structured interviews.

Results: There were 8615, 6126 and 5385 participants aged 16-64. Prevalence of CMDs was consistent (1993: 14.3%; 2000: 16.0%; 2007: 16.0%), as was past-year primary care physician contact for psychological problems (1993: 11.3%; 2000: 12.0%; 2007: 11.7%). Antidepressant receipt in people with CMDs more than doubled between 1993 (5.7%) and 2000 (14.5%), with little further increase by 2007 (15.9%). Psychological treatments increased in successive surveys. Many with CMDs received no treatment.

Conclusions: Reduction in prevalence did not follow increased treatment uptake, and may require universal public health measures together with individual pharmacological, psychological and computer-based interventions.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adolescent
Adult
England / epidemiology
Female
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders / epidemiology*
Mental Disorders / therapy*
Middle Aged
Patient Acceptance of Health Care / statistics & numerical data*
Prevalence
Young Adult

Grants and funding

Department of Health/United Kingdom