The relation between depression and the frequency of visits in selected primary care clinics

Background
Depressive disorder is a serious social problem. Epidemiological data shows that 5% of the worldwide population of adults and 3.2% of Polish people suffer from depression. Somatization of reported symptoms probably leads to more frequent consultations in primary care.

Objectives
To determine the correlation between depression and frequency of visits to a family physician.

Material and methods
An anonymous questionnaire concerning the number of visits to primary care, the most common symptoms reported, and the WHO-5 Well-Being Index, which evaluates current mental well-being, was distributed to primary care and among students from the Medical University in Lodz (Poland). 609 answers were collected. The data was analyzed using the Shapiro-Wilk, Spearman and Chi-square tests.

Results
Statistically significant (p = 0.000) were: a negative correlation between the WHO – Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), and the number of visits (R = -0.2) and a correlation between the WHO-5, the number of visits, and the gender of patients (women R = -0.3; men R = -0.2). The patients with the highest mental well-being level needed to see their doctors less. The most frequently reported complaints were: pain, impaired concentration and memory and constipation.

Conclusions
Patients with a higher level of mental well-being rarely visit their family physicians. Family physicians should be mindful of patients’ mental well-being because it could influence the number of medical visits. Family physicians should consider depression in patients with chronic pain, impaired concentration and memory, and gastrointestinal symptoms.