Of the 75 patients detected with the interview, 14 (18.67%) had a diagnosis recorded in the medical record (sensitivity=0.19; IC 95% CI; 0.09-28). The positive predictive value of being in the medical record was 0.56.
Mental disorders and their underdiagnosis in primary care
 
  Keywords
 
 
  
   Mental disorders
  
 
 
  
   Diagnosis
  
 
 
  
   Primary health care
  
 
Despite its high prevalence, <dis>mental disorders</dis> are often underdiagnosed.

Objective.
To determine the magnitude of the underdiagnosis <dis>mental disorders</dis> and its associated characteristics.

Methodology.
A descriptive cross-sectional study performed in Lanzarote (2011) on 310 patients selected by cluster random sampling. 
A self-completed questionnaire was used that contained the General Health Questionnaire-28, as well as structured interview using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview to confirm the diagnosis of <dis>mental disorder</dis>. 
The current diagnosis registered in the DRAGO-AP electronic medical record was also recorded.

Results.
Of the 75 patients detected with the interview, 14 (18.67%) had a diagnosis recorded in the medical record (sensitivity=0.19; IC 95% CI; 0.09-28). 
The positive predictive value of being in the medical record was 0.56.

With respect to sensitivity, only the “number of visits made to the health centre in the last 3 months” was significantly higher in the group of patients also with a diagnosis of any <dis>mental disorder</dis> in the medical record (5 vs. 2.77; p=.002).

Conclusions.
There is an important underdiagnosis of the <dis>mental disorders</dis> in our environment. 
More visits to the health centre are associated with this diagnosis.

Despite its high prevalence, mental disorders are often underdiagnosed.

Objective.
To determine the magnitude of the underdiagnosis mental disorders and its associated characteristics.

Methodology.
A descriptive cross-sectional study performed in Lanzarote (2011) on 310 patients selected by cluster random sampling. 
A self-completed questionnaire was used that contained the General Health Questionnaire-28, as well as structured interview using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview to confirm the diagnosis of mental disorder. 
The current diagnosis registered in the DRAGO-AP electronic medical record was also recorded.

Results.
Of the 75 patients detected with the interview, 14 (18.67%) had a diagnosis recorded in the medical record (sensitivity=0.19; IC 95% CI; 0.09-28). 
The positive predictive value of being in the medical record was 0.56.

With respect to sensitivity, only the “number of visits made to the health centre in the last 3 months” was significantly higher in the group of patients also with a diagnosis of any mental disorder in the medical record (5 vs. 2.77; p=.002).

Conclusions.
There is an important underdiagnosis of the mental disorders in our environment. 
More visits to the health centre are associated with this diagnosis.

Of the 75 patients detected with the interview, 14 (18.67%) had a diagnosis recorded in the medical record (sensitivity=0.19; IC 95% CI; 0.09-28). The positive predictive value of being in the medical record was 0.56.