Health Affairs, 22, no. 5 (2003): 8-20 doi: 10.1377/hlthaff.22.5.8 © 2003 by Project HOPE	New Online   Pay Cuts For Medicare Docs   Access To Care Woes   Public Coverage More Efficient   Empowering Consumers

This Article Full Text (HTML) Reprint (PDF) Submit a response to this article Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services E-mail this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in ISI Web of Science Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to My Personal Archive Download to Citation Manager Reprints & Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via ISI Web of Science (22) Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Mechanic, D. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Mechanic, D. Related Collections Access To Care Insurance Coverage Mental Health/Substance Abuse

Mental Disorders

Is The Prevalence Of Mental Disorders A Good Measure Of The Need For Services?

Mental disorders are highly prevalent, but prevalence is different from need for treatment. Some mental disorders are a major source of distress, disability, and social burden, and many people who could benefit from treatment do not receive it. Need is typically self-defined or defined by clinicians who are motivated to bring treatment to those who could benefit. Defining need appropriately requires consideration of the duration and reoccurrence of disorder, associated distress and disability, and the likelihood that treatment will be beneficial. Demand may be promoted inappropriately by clinicians and drug manufacturers who profit from expansion of demand. Future assessments of need must be based on evidence and take into account priorities for care and cost-effectiveness.

                      What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				H. W. Neighbors, C. Caldwell, D. R. Williams, R. Nesse, R. J. Taylor, K. M. Bullard, M. Torres, and J. S. Jackson Race, Ethnicity, and the Use of Services for Mental Disorders: Results From the National Survey of American Life Arch Gen Psychiatry, April 1, 2007; 64(4): 485 - 494. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. ALONSO, M. CODONY, V. KOVESS, M. C. ANGERMEYER, S. J. KATZ, J. M. HARO, G. DE GIROLAMO, R. DE GRAAF, K. DEMYTTENAERE, G. VILAGUT, et al. Population level of unmet need for mental healthcare in Europe The British Journal of Psychiatry, April 1, 2007; 190(4): 299 - 306. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				P. K. Lindenauer, D. Remus, S. Roman, M. B. Rothberg, E. M. Benjamin, A. Ma, and D. W. Bratzler Public Reporting and Pay for Performance in Hospital Quality Improvement N. Engl. J. Med., February 1, 2007; 356(5): 486 - 496. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. B. Rosenthal, B. E. Landon, S.-L. T. Normand, R. G. Frank, and A. M. Epstein Pay for Performance in Commercial HMOs N. Engl. J. Med., November 2, 2006; 355(18): 1895 - 1902. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. K. Iglehart The Mental Health Maze and the Call for Transformation N. Engl. J. Med., January 29, 2004; 350(5): 507 - 514. [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. C. Kessler, K. R. Merikangas, P. Berglund, W. W. Eaton, D. S. Koretz, and E. E. Walters Mild Disorders Should Not Be Eliminated From the DSM-V Arch Gen Psychiatry, November 1, 2003; 60(11): 1117 - 1122. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]