New Survey Shows a Disconnect Between Understanding and Treatment Seeking
ARLINGTON, Va., May 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The diagnosis of a mental illness no
longer carries the fear or shame it once did, according to a survey released
today by the American Psychiatric Association (APA). Nearly 90 percent of
Americans surveyed correctly believe that people with mental illness can live
healthy lives and an overwhelming majority (80 percent) feels confident that
mental health treatment works. Study findings also show that nearly 70
percent of people surveyed view going to a psychiatrist as a sign of strength.
Despite this very positive news, however, there are still some grave
misconceptions to address. Each year in the United States, 1 in 5 adults are
diagnosed with a mental illness, yet the same proportion of adults say they
would not see a psychiatrist under any circumstances. In addition, a majority
(57 percent) of those surveyed are not concerned about themselves or a family
member ever having to deal with a mental illness. This is troubling news
considering that a 1 in 5 incidence rate means that few American families are
ever untouched by mental illness.
Although 75 percent of consumers believe that mental illnesses are usually
caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain, those surveyed are almost twice
as likely to seek help from a primary care physician rather than a
psychiatrist -- a specialist specifically trained to diagnose and treat
chemical imbalances and other determinants of mental illness.
"Overall, the survey reports good news for understanding of mental
health," said Steven S. Sharfstein, M.D., president-elect of the American
Psychiatric Association. "However, the public needs to know that
psychiatrists are medical doctors who are uniquely qualified to evaluate a
person's physical and mental wellness and develop a comprehensive,
individualized treatment plan."
Additional significant findings:
* More women than men think that seeing a psychiatrist is a sign of
strength (78 percent vs. 61 percent)
* 75 percent of adults surveyed correctly understand that psychiatrists
are medical doctors with medical degrees, while 38 percent mistakenly
think that psychologists are medical doctors
* Younger adults are significantly more positive than older adults (65+)
about mental illness issues, highlighting progress made in younger
generations embracing the realities of mental illness
According to recent studies, each year, more than 10 million anti-
depressant prescriptions are written by primary care doctors, with no mental
health follow-up afterwards. While primary care doctors are often the first
line of defense, for some patients, additional therapy is an important part of
treatment.
"The most important step is to see a doctor if you are concerned about
your mental health and we encourage people to seek someone with whom they feel
comfortable. Our goal is to raise awareness so that patients know to ask
specifics about mental illness and seek the treatment that will be right for
them," said Dr. Sharfstein. "We seek to work closely with primary care
providers to ensure comprehensive care, which may include medication, talk
therapy or a combination of both."
About the American Psychiatric Association:
The American Psychiatric Association is a national medical specialty
society whose nearly 36,000 physician members specialize in the diagnosis,
treatment and prevention of mental illnesses including substance use
disorders. Healthy Minds. Healthy Lives. Care that works to get your mind
healthy again so you can lead a healthy life.
May is Mental Health Month. Learn more by visiting the APA's consumer Web
site at http://www.healthyminds.org.
Don't miss the APA's 2005 Annual Meeting: "Psychosomatic Medicine:
Integrating Psychiatry and Medicine," in Atlanta, May 21-26, 2005. Please
visit the APA's online pressroom for news releases, press policies and media
registration information:
http://www.psych.org/news_room/virtual_pressrms/am2005.
About the Survey:
This survey was conducted for the American Psychiatric Association by
using Opinion Research Corporation's CARAVAN(R) Omnibus Survey. Telephone
interviews were completed from the period Mar. 31-Apr. 3, 2005, with 1,020
adults comprising 510 men and 510 women 18 years of age and older, living in
private households in the continental United States. The sample is based on a
methodology designed to produce a representative sample of the U.S. adult
population.
Margin of error: The results achieved from all sample surveys are subject
to sampling error. Sampling error is defined as the difference between the
results obtained from the sample and those that would have been obtained had
the entire relevant population been surveyed. The sampling error for the
total sample of this survey (n = 1000) is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points
(n = 500, sampling error 4.4 percentage points). Please note that when
comparing smaller subgroups, such as respondents divided by gender categories,
or income, the margin of error increases.
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