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Are self-referrers just the worried well?

A cross-sectional study of self-referrers to community psycho-educational Stress and Self-Confidence workshops

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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

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.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Dept. (PO77), Institute of Psychiatry, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK

    June S. L. Brown PhD, CPsychol, Elsa Howay B.Sc. & Joanna Morrison B.Sc.

  2. Health Service Research Dept., Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

    Jed Boardman PhD, FRCPsych

  3. Psychological Medicine Dept., Institute of Psychiatry, London, UK

    Sandra A. Elliott PhD, CPsychol

Authors
  1. June S. L. Brown PhD, CPsychol
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  2. Jed Boardman PhD, FRCPsych
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  3. Sandra A. Elliott PhD, CPsychol
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  4. Elsa Howay B.Sc.
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  5. Joanna Morrison B.Sc.
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to June S. L. Brown PhD, CPsychol.

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Brown, J.S.L., Boardman, J., Elliott, S.A. et al. Are self-referrers just the worried well?. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 40, 396–401 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0896-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-005-0896-z

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