ABC of mental health: Common mental health problems in primary care

摘要

Psychiatric symptoms are common in the general population: worry, tiredness, and sleepless nights affect more than half of adults at some time, while as many as one person in seven experiences some form of diagnosable neurotic disorder. These problems are not confined to Western countries. The World Health Organisation's study of mental disorder in general health care screened over 25 000 people in 14 countries worldwide and assessed 5500 in detail. A quarter had well defined disorders, and a further 9% had subthreshold conditions. The most common disorders were depression (10%), generalised anxiety disorder (8%), and harmful use of alcohol (3%).