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Perceived need for alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment

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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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Acknowledgements

Funded by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)—Healthcare for Communities (HCC) and the UCLA-NPI Health Services Research Center (Grant #MH54623), the VISN 16 Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center, and a Career Development Award OD Edlund from VA HSR&D. We would like to acknowledge the expert programming assistance of Fuan Yue Kung, M.S.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. VA South Central (VISN 16), Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center, North Little Rock, AR, USA

    Mark J. Edlund MD, PhD

  2. Dept. of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Mark J. Edlund MD, PhD & Geoffrey M. Curran PhD

  3. M. J. Edlund, 2200 Fort Roots Drive, Building 58, North Little Rock, AR, 72114, USA

    Mark J. Edlund MD, PhD

  4. Dept. of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA

    Jürgen Unützer MD, MPH

  5. HSR&D Center for Mental Healthcare and Outcomes Research, Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, North Little Rock, AR, USA

    Geoffrey M. Curran PhD

Authors
  1. Mark J. Edlund MD, PhD
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  2. Jürgen Unützer MD, MPH
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  3. Geoffrey M. Curran PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mark J. Edlund MD, PhD.

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Edlund, M.J., Unützer, J. & Curran, G.M. Perceived need for alcohol, drug, and mental health treatment. Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 41, 480–487 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-006-0047-1

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