Psychological health in general medical practice: a survey.

The information gained from the National Morbidity Survey (1962-63) and the Australia Morbidity Survey (commenced 1969) indicates that there has been a general increase in the number of patients attending a general practitioner for mental disorders. This study was a survey to attempt to gain some insight into the incidence of both primary and secondary emotional/psychological problems in general medical practice. A sample of eight general practitioners completed questionnaires giving information on three areas: (I) Variables of sex, age, marital status and occupation (II) The form and incidence of concomitant somatic/psychological problems (III) The form and incidence of psychological problems. Each general practitioner completed the questionnaire for 200 consecutive patients, giving a total sample of 1600 doctor-patient contacts.