Breaking Through Barriers aims to help ensure that people with depression suffering from emotional and physical symptoms are diagnosed and treated as effectively as possible About- Breaking Through Barriers aims to help ensure that people with depression suffering from emotional and physical symptoms are diagnosed and treated as effectively as possible

"Understanding The Link Between Mind And Body" Survey

In 2007, the WFMH and the World Organisation for Family Doctors (WONCA) called for the "Understanding The Link Between Mind And Body" survey to examine how general practitioners (GPs) and depressed patients understand the mind-body connection. The aim of this survey was to measure how this understanding may affect diagnosis and management of depression.

Findings from the international survey showed that eight in ten doctors (84 percent) say their colleagues need to be educated on the mind-body link, while nearly two-thirds (63 percent) are concerned about misdiagnosing depressed patients with a pain condition due to possible confusion around the link that experts agree exists between the mind and the body.

These results suggest that understanding and discussing this mind-body connection can play a vital role in improving diagnosis and the management of depression for the estimated 121 million people worldwide who suffer from the condition1.

For more detailed survey results, check out the"Understanding The Link Between Mind And Body" Survey backgrounder and press release

Download the report here

Backgrounder

Download the report here

Press Release



References

  1. World Health Organization. Factsheet - Depression. 2005. Available at: http://www.who.int/mental_health/management/depression/definition/en/