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MENTAL, BEHAVIOURAL AND COGNITIVE CONDITIONS

Definition

In 2014-15 a new module was created in the NHS to collect information specifically about mental, behavioural and cognitive conditions.

Mental, behavioural and cognitive conditions are a broad and diverse range of health conditions including relatively mild conditions of short duration, episodic/recurring conditions, and severe and disabling conditions. This collection of conditions is often experienced simultaneously.

People of all ages can develop symptoms and behaviours that are distressing to themselves or others, and interfere with their social functioning and capacity to negotiate daily life. These symptoms and behaviours may require treatment, rehabilitation, or even hospitalisation. A diverse range of social, environmental, biological and psychological factors can impact on an individual’s mental health

Population

Information was obtained for all persons in the 2014-15 NHS.

Methodology

Information about mental, behavioural and cognitive conditions was first published in the National Health Survey: First Results, 2014-15 based on a sample of 19,259 people. Additional information relating to actions and medications taken for mental, behavioural and cognitive conditions was also published in Health Service Usage and Health related Actions, Australia, 2014-15.

Respondents were asked to identify whether they had any of the following mental health, behavioural and/or cognitive conditions listed on the prompt card (including any conditions they were managing with treatment or medication):

• Depression, including Persistent depressive disorder
• Feeling depressed
• Bipolar disorder
• Mania
• Anxiety disorder
• Feeling anxious, nervous or tense
• Panic disorder
• Panic attacks
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Agoraphobia
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Social Phobia
• Other affective or anxiety condition.
  

• Substance use disorders, such as:
  • Harmful use or dependence on alcohol
  • Harmful use or dependence on drugs
  • Harmful use or dependence on medicinal/prescription drugs
• Developmental and learning conditions, such as:
  • Autism spectrum disorders, such as Rett’s syndrome and Asperger syndrome
  • Intellectual impairment/mental retardation
• Behavioural conditions, such as:
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Conduct disorder
• Other mental and behavioural conditions, such as:
  • Dementia, including Alzheimer’s Disease
  • Schizophrenia
  • Any other mental or behavioural condition.

• Whether the condition had lasted, or was expected to last, for 6 months or more (i.e. was long-term) and, if so, which one(s).
• Whether they had been told by a doctor or nurse that they had each of the conditions reported (i.e. diagnosed).
• Whether they had taken any of the following medications in the last two weeks for any of their conditions (regardless of whether long-term or diagnosed) (More than one response was allowed):
  • Sleeping tablets or capsules
  • Tablets or capsules for anxiety or nerves
  • Tranquillisers
  • Antidepressants
  • Mood stabilisers
  • Other medications for mental, behavioural or cognitive conditions.
• If so, how long they had been taking each type of medication for:
  • Less than 1 month
  • 1 month to less than 3 months
  • 3 months to less than 6 months
  • 6 months or more
  • Don't know.

Interpretation

Points to be considered in interpreting data for this topic include the following:

• It is possible that there may be under-reporting of mental health conditions by proxies or when other household members are present due to the personal or sensitive nature of these conditions.
• As this is a household-based survey, those people with mental, behavioural and cognitive conditions resident in hospitals, nursing or convalescent homes, or similar accommodation are outside the scope of this survey. As a result, the survey will under-represent those with more severe complications of the condition.
  

The table below presents numbers and proportions of people with mental and behavioural conditions in 2014-15 and 2011-12 to illustrate the effect of the change in collection methodology. Differences between 2014-15 and 2011-12 should not be interpreted as changes in the prevalence of mental or behavioural conditions. MENTAL AND BEHAVIOURAL CONDITIONS, 2014-15 and 2011-12 National Health Survey, 2014-15 Estimate '000 Proportion % Alcohol and drug problems 230.9 1.0 Mood (affective) disorders nnnn Depression/feeling depressed 2 052.2 8.9 nnnn Other mood (affective) disorders 179.5 0.8 nnnn Total mood (affective) disorders 2 137.6 9.3 Anxiety related problems nnnn Anxiety disorders/feeling anxious, nervous or tense 2 207.0 9.6 nnnn Panic disorders/panic attacks 585.7 2.5 nnnn Phobic anxiety disorders 303.6 1.3 nnnn Obsessive-compulsive disorder 267.9 1.2 nnnn Post-traumatic stress disorder 232.3 1.0 nnnn Total anxiety related disorders 2 564.1 11.2 Problems of psychological development 293.8 1.3 Behavioural, cognitive & emotional problems with usual onset in childhood/adolescence 257.1 1.1 Other mental and behavioural problems(b) 260.4 1.1 Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perceptions, emotional state and behaviour 40.3 0.2 Total mental and behavioural problems 4 017.4 17.5 Total population 22 969.0 100.0 National Health Survey, 2011-12 Estimate '000 Proportion % Alcohol and drug problems 152.1 0.7 nnnn nnnn nnnn Mood (affective) disorders 2 143.1 9.7 nnnn nnnn nnnn nnnn nnnn nnnn Anxiety related problems 850.1 3.8 Problems of psychological development 154.1 0.7 Behavioural and emotional problems with usual onset in childhood/adolescence 135.7 0.6 Other mental and behavioural problems(b) 196.0 0.9 Symptoms and signs involving cognition, perceptions, emotional state and behaviour 108.3 0.5 Total mental and behavioural problems 2 996.2 13.6 Total population 22 105.3 100.0 (a) Data for 2014-15 are not comparable to earlier years due to a change in collection methodology. In 2014-15, information on mental health conditions was obtained through a new Mental, Behavioural and Cognitive Conditions module, while in previous years it was collected as part of the Long Term Conditions module. (b) Includes organic mental problems.