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Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 6/2006

01-06-2006 | ORIGINAL PAPER

Perceived need for alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment

Authors: Mark J. Edlund, MD, PhD, Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH, Geoffrey M. Curran, PhD

Published in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Issue 6/2006

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Abstract

Background

To investigate determinants of perceived need for alcohol, drug, and mental (ADM) health treatment and differences in ADM treatment patterns between individuals with perceived need and those without.

Methods

We used data from a nationally representative telephone survey of 9585 adults conducted in 1997–1998. Logistic regression was used to study the determinants of perceived need and the correlation between perceived need and any ADM treatment, specialty ADM treatment, appropriate care, and medication adherence.

Results

Just fewer than 37% of individuals with an ADM disorder perceived a need for treatment, while 4.6% of those without an ADM disorder perceived a need for treatment. Women, the young and middle aged, the better educated, those with greater emotional support, and those with greater psychiatric morbidity were more likely to perceive need for ADM services. Perceived need was strongly correlated with receiving ADM treatment, although almost 44% of individuals in ADM treatment did not perceive a need for treatment. Among individuals in ADM treatment, those with perceived need were significantly more likely to receive specialty ADM treatment, but not more likely to be treatment adherent, or to receive appropriate care.

Conclusion

Substantial levels of unmet need are likely to persist as long as perceived levels of need remain low. Interventions targeting perceived need may hold promise for decreasing unmet need.
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Metadata
Title
Perceived need for alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment
Authors
Mark J. Edlund, MD, PhD
Jürgen Unützer, MD, MPH
Geoffrey M. Curran, PhD
Publication date
01-06-2006
Publisher
Steinkopff-Verlag
Published in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Issue 6/2006
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Electronic ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0047-1

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