Patients miss out on GPcare, says study

Most people with common psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and
depression are not receiving appropriate treatment from their GPs,
a study says.

Research in this month’s British Journal of Psychiatry
finds that 147 out of 336 people who consulted their GPs in
mid-Cheshire had psychiatric conditions. But almost 60 per cent of
these did not have their needs met, while another 6 per cent had
their needs only partially met.

The most common conditions which went unrecognised or untreated or
both were anxiety (in 14 per cent of cases) and depression (one in
10 cases).

GPs and primary care staff need more training in detecting common
psychiatric conditions and more awareness of the benefits of
medication and cognitive behavioural therapies, says the
study.

Mental health charity Mind said the quality of the initial GP
contact was crucial to ensure service users received appropriate
services. More choice in primary care services is also important
for helping people with mental health problems.