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Temporary stages and motivational variables: Two complementary perspectives in the help-seeking process for mental
Gema Del Valle Del Valle1, Carmen Carrió2, Amparo Belloch3
1Agencia Valenciana de Salud, Departamento 04, Unidad de Salud Mental de Sagunto, Sagunto, Valencia, España.
Revista De Psiquiatria Y Salud Mental
|October 17, 2017
Summary
Understanding mental health treatment seeking is crucial. This study reveals that motivational factors significantly influence the speed at which individuals recognize symptoms and seek professional help for mental disorders.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychology
- Mental Health Services Research
Background:
- Help-seeking for mental disorders is a complex, multi-stage process.
- Motivational variables significantly influence help-seeking behavior.
- Existing instruments lack depth in evaluating temporal and motivational aspects of help-seeking.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze temporal and motivational variables in the mental health help-seeking process.
- To utilize a specific instrument for in-depth assessment of these variables.
- To enhance understanding of treatment-seeking behaviors in mental health.
Main Methods:
- A structured interview was conducted with 152 patients across various mental health outpatient clinics.
- Patients diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Agoraphobia, Major Depressive Disorder, Anorexia Nervosa, and Cocaine Dependence participated.
- Disorder severity and quality of life were also assessed alongside the help-seeking process.
Main Results:
- Patients with agoraphobia and major depression recognized symptoms faster.
- Individuals with major depression sought professional help more quickly.
- Motivational variables were categorized into those encouraging treatment, delaying treatment (e.g., symptom minimization), and stigma-related factors.
Conclusions:
- Motivational variables are critical across all stages of the help-seeking process.
- The developed interview instrument proved effective in assessing these variables.
- Findings underscore the importance of addressing motivational factors in mental health treatment seeking.