Help-seeking pattern of psychiatric outpatients in urban China

The subjects of this study (N = 1297, male = 600, females = 697) were first time adult patients (aged 20 to 59 years) who sought psychiatric treatments at a mental health centre in Shanghai over a period of 12 months. Compared with adult population in Shanghai, the patients were of higher educational levels and were over-represented by the unmarried, separated, or divorced. A higher proportion of the patients were in their early adulthood. The most common presenting problems were sleep disturbance, somatic symptoms, and paranoid ideation. About 25% of the patients took their own initiative to seek psychiatric treatments and more than half (55.2%) were referred by their spouse or relatives. Decision for psychiatric treatments was made after a long delay since the first onset of illness (average = 2.7 years). Consistent with findings reported in other Chinese communities, their paths to seeking psychiatric treatments were diverted primarily through Western-style or traditional Chinese physicians. Stigmatization associated with psychiatric illness and lack of trust in psychiatric services were major deterring factors in seeking psychiatric treatments.