Prevalence and treatment of common mental disorders in the English national population, 1993-2007

Abstract

Background The National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys include English cross-sectional household samples surveyed in 1993, 2000 and 2007. Aims To evaluate frequency of common mental disorders (CMDs), service contact and treatment. Method Common mental disorders were identified with the Clinical Interview Schedule - Revised (CIS-R). Service contact and treatment were established in structured interviews. Results There were 8615, 6126 and 5385 participants aged 16-64. Prevalence of CMDs was consistent (1993: 14.3%; 2000: 16.0%; 2007: 16.0%), as was past-year primary care physician contact for psychological problems (1993: 11.3%; 2000: 12.0%; 2007: 11.7%). Antidepressant receipt in people with CMDs more than doubled between 1993 (5.7%) and 2000 (14.5%), with little further increase by 2007 (15.9%). Psychological treatments increased in successive surveys. Many with CMDs received no treatment. Conclusions Reduction in prevalence did not follow increased treatment uptake, and may require universal public health measures together with individual pharmacological, psychological and computer-based interventions.