Objectives: This study intends to evaluate the prevalence of common mental disorders in a population residing in Florence cared for by general practitioners and to assess the determinants of classification and recognition of common mental disorders of the General Health Questionnaire with 12 items as screening tool. (GHQ-12).
Participants: The study includes a total of 676 patients received in the periods from June to September 1999 and from January to February 2000 in out-patient treatment by 13 general practitioners during a 2 week sampling in the consulting room of each doctor.
Methods: Every patient filled in a tool set composed of socio-demographic form, GHQ-12, Social Readjustment Rating Scale (SRRS). To evaluate the diagnostic reliability of GHQ-12, a subgroup of 158 patients underwent The Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI).
Results: Among the 676 patients contacted the estimated prevalence (Probable Prevalence) of common mental disorders was of 43.6%. The factors connected to the GHQ-12 high-scorers are gender, number of consultations and life events evaluated through the SRRS. The school level results as protective factor.
Conclusions: This study pointed out the importance of psycho-social factors in determining common mental disorders in the general practice, moreover the prevalence of such disorders is high.