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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 5/2006

01-05-2006 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Personality correlates of outpatient mental health service utilization

Findings from the U.S. national comorbidity survey

Authors: Lachlan A. McWilliams, PhD, Brian J. Cox, PhD, Murray W. Enns, MD, Ian P. Clara, MA

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 5/2006

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Abstract

Objective

The present paper investigated the relationships between several personality constructs and the use of outpatient mental health services.

Methods

Respondents were from the National Comorbidity Survey (NCS) Part II data set and included those with a past-year mood, anxiety, alcohol/substance use disorder (n=1750). Bivariate logistic regressions were used to examine associations between participants’ self-reports of personality traits and outpatient mental health service utilization. Similar multivariate analyses were used to investigate these associations after adjusting for sociodemographic variables and the presence of psychiatric disorders and their comorbidity.

Results

The bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed significant positive associations between outpatient mental health service utilization and both Powerful Others Locus of Control and Self-criticism.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that personality traits may play a role in treatment seeking behaviors for mental health problems over and above the presence of psychiatric disorders alone. The assessment of relevant personality constructs has the potential to inform and improve treatment outreach efforts.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Footnotes
1
All the previously significant demographic and diagnostic variables presented in Table 1 remained significant in the multivariate analyses, with the exception of the 35–44 age category.
 
2
In light of the significant association between Powerful Others Locus of Control and help-seeking, the sole reliance on self-report must be stressed as a limitation of the current study. Future research with other key informants (e.g., spouse, family members) could shed further light on how much service utilization was determined by self versus others.
 
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Metadata
Title
Personality correlates of outpatient mental health service utilization
Findings from the U.S. national comorbidity survey
Authors
Lachlan A. McWilliams, PhD
Brian J. Cox, PhD
Murray W. Enns, MD
Ian P. Clara, MA
Publication date
01-05-2006
Publisher
Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 5/2006
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0040-8

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