Zhonghua Yi Xue Za Zhi. 2000 Jan; 80(1): 75-8.

[Seeking behavior of patients with mental disorders and interfering factors]

Shi S, Lu Z, Zhu S.

Department of Psychiatry, Huashan Hospital of Shanghai Medical University, Shanghai 200040, China.

OBJECTIVE: To approach different help-seeking behavior and its effects on patients with mental illness. METHODS: We investigated the patients first seeking help in psychiatry department, by applying the scale of help-seeking behavior of mental illness. RESULTS: There were significant differences among different mental disorders. 50% patients with mania, 66% with schizophrenia, and about 90% with depression or neurosis first went to general hospital when their illness began. About 80% patients considered their symptoms as normal, temperament, and mood problems. The course of one-third patients was one year, and most patients were treated with traditional herbs, west drugs and tests. Nearly 10% patients with depression, neurosis and schizophrenia spent more then 10 000 yuan before seeking the doctor in psychiatry. CONCLUSION: Now then it is still a main problem for patients with mental disorders in seeking behavior. We suggest that the propaganda of the knowledge of mental health should be paid more attention, especially for the people in community and doctors in general hospital.