Conditions that do not Reach the Threshold for Mental Disorder in Spanish Psychiatric Outpatients: Prevalence, Treatment and Management

Alberto Ortiz-Lobo, Beatriz García-Moratalla, Carolina Lozano-Serrano, Iván De La Mata-Ruiz and Francisco Rodríguez-Salvanés
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Alberto Ortiz-Lobo: Psychiatrist, Centro de Salud Mental de Salamanca, Madrid, Spain, aortizlobo@yahoo.es
Beatriz García-Moratalla: Psychiatrist, Hospital Nuestra Señora del Perpetuo Socorro, Albacete, Spain
Carolina Lozano-Serrano: Psychiatrist, Centro de Salud Mental de Leganés, Madrid, Spain
Iván De La Mata-Ruiz: Psychiatrist, Centro de Salud Mental de Leganés, Madrid, Spain
Francisco Rodríguez-Salvanés: Fundación Investigación Biomédica, Hospital La Princesa, Madrid, Spain

International Journal of Social Psychiatry, 2011, vol. 57, issue 5, 471-479

Abstract: Background: In recent years there has been controversy around the treatment demands of people who, without meeting diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder, have certain symptoms and are referred to mental health professionals. Aims: To determine the prevalence of individuals assessed by mental health service, referred from primary care, who do not meet the diagnosis criteria of mental disorders according to ICD-10. To analyze the medical treatment given to these individuals, measured by the indication for discharge or follow-up and by the pharmacological intervention decided in the first interview, as well as the associated variables. Method: Design: descriptive study. Scope: urban area. Population: all patients referred to the Salamanca mental health service during a year, without any exclusion ( n = 1,187). Variables: sociodemographics; clinical and health service utilization gathered through clinical interview, GHQ-28, SCL-90-R and an expectations scale. Results: Of the 1,004 patients who attended interview, 24.4% (CI 95%: 21.6—27.0) did not present any diagnosable mental disorder (Z codes); they constitute the body of this study. 50.8% of these were referred from primary care with a psychotropic drug treatment already prescribed. Any drug intervention (addition, suspension or modification) was performed in 37.2% of the cases by the mental health service. Regardless of the treatment indicated, 52% were discharged after the first interview. Conclusions: The prevalence of patients who failed to reach diagnostic criteria for a mental disorder in this health service is similar to other studies, in spite of the filter provided by primary care. Many individuals without a diagnosable mental disorder received treatment both in primary care and in the mental health service.

Keywords: Z code condition; subumbral disorders; treatment; psychiatric drug therapy; management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2011
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:socpsy:v:57:y:2011:i:5:p:471-479

DOI: 10.1177/0020764010368616

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