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Helpseeking and access to mental health treatment for obsessive‐compulsive disorder
Author(s) -
Goodwin Renee,
Koenen Karestan C.,
Hellman Fred,
Guardino Mary,
Struening Elmer
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
acta psychiatrica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.849
H-Index - 146
eISSN - 1600-0447
pISSN - 0001-690X
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0447.2002.01221.x
Subject(s) - mental health , panic disorder , psychiatry , anxiety , suicidal ideation , anxiety disorder , clinical psychology , panic , national comorbidity survey , generalized anxiety disorder , medicine , psychology , feeling , suicide prevention , poison control , environmental health , social psychology
Objective: To identify predictors of helpseeking and use of mental health treatment for obsessive‐compulsive disorder (OCD) using the behavioral model of health service use. Method: Data were drawn from the 1996 National Anxiety Disorders Screening Day. Participants ( n =14 860) completed screening measures providing information about demographics, mental disorders, helpseeking, and treatment experiences for OCD. Results: Previous use of mental health treatment was associated with comorbid panic disorder [odds ratio (OR)=1.6 (1.3–1.98)], while minority racial status [OR=0.7 (0.5–0.9)] emerged as a barrier to receiving care among individuals with OCD. Among those who had never received mental health care, comorbid panic disorder [OR=2.0 (1.5–2.8)], post‐traumatic stress disorder [OR=1.7 (1.3–2.4)], and suicidal ideation [OR=1.7 (1.2–2.3)] increased readiness to seek treatment while being employed [OR=0.7 (0.5–0.9)], and feeling one could handle the problem on his/her own [OR=0.5 (0.3–0.7)] decreased readiness to seek help for the first time. Conclusion: These data suggest that access to treatment for OCD may not be equally accessible to all in need by revealing non‐disease related factors (e.g. race, health beliefs) that have a significant impact on decisions to seek and use mental health treatment.