Perceived need for treatment for mental disorders: A review and critical evaluation

Mental disorders are highly prevalent worldwide. Unfortunately, most people with these disorders do not receive any treatment. This is due in part to a large set of barriers that impede treatment delivery. An initial barrier is the perception that one does not need treatment. Perceived need for treatment (PNFT) refers to whether an individual sees a need to obtain an intervention for their mental health problem. Among individuals with a mental disorder, lack of perceived need is the most common reason people give for not initiating treatment. This article describes PNFT, its characteristics, correlates, and predictors. A critical evaluation of the concept challenges key notions such as whether meeting criteria for a disorder means that someone needs treatment, whether PNFT actually is the initial obstacle limiting treatment seeking, how people may seek an intervention but do not elect mental health treatment, and that PNFT is neither a necessary nor a sufficient condition for entering treatment. Several research priorities are discussed including the importance of perceived need among parents and other caregivers, evaluating whether increasing the rates of PNFT would actually increase service use, the need to study the treatment needs of many neglected groups, and considering whether PNFT influences other facets of the treatment process (e.g., adherence to treatment, dropping out early) where perceiving there no longer is a mental health problem may occur.