Anxiety Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Anxiety, including details on anxiety disorder, panic attacks, medication, counselling, therapy.

Are self-referrers just the worried well?--A cross-sectional study of self-referrers to community psycho-educational Stress and Self-Confidence workshops.

Brown JS, Boardman J, Elliott SA, Howay E, Morrison J

Psychology Dept. (PO77), Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK. june.brown@iop.kcl.ac.uk

BACKGROUND: Reluctance to seek formal help has been seen as a major problem in trying to reduce the prevalence of anxiety and depression. AIMS: The aims of this study were to assess the psychiatric status of those self-referring to psycho-educational Stress and Self-Confidence community workshops using a cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) approach. METHOD: Cross-sectional analysis of 196 people who referred themselves to community workshops was carried out using the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R) psychiatric interview and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) and Spielberger Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-T) scale self-report assessments. RESULTS: Over 70% of all self-referrers had an ICD-10 diagnosis. Those without diagnoses had experienced recurrent significant psychological problems and 29.7% had never consulted their General Practitioner (GP) for anxiety/depression problems. Total CIS-R scores and white ethnic group best predicted previous GP consultation. CONCLUSION: Setting up a self-referral system can enable those with diagnosable psychiatric problems, who may otherwise be reluctant to seek help, to come forward. This may have significant public mental health implications.

Published 19 May 2005 in Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol, 40(5): 396-401.
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