Previous data suggest that there is an important group of patients between primary care (PC) attendees suffering a psychiatric disorder that remain undetected. Our aim was to know data about this group of patients compared with patients without psychiatric pathology (PWP) and patients with already known psychiatric pathology (PKP).

A random sample of 225 subjects older than 18 years old, from 3 PC Centres of the area of Madrid (Spain) completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Data about medical and psychiatric conditions, drug treatments, days of work lost (last year) and use of health care services (last 3 months), were also collected. Psychiatric and clinical characteristics between groups were compared.

50 (22,2%) patients were suffering a psychiatric condition according to PHQ but without recognition by their general practioner. This group of patients were younger than PWP and PKP (ANOVA; p=0,021 and p=0,013). They were suffering more depressive symptoms and somatic complaints than PWP (p<0,001 and p<0,001 respectively). In terms of days of work lost and use of health care services did not differ from PWP.

The results suggest that other reasons rather than the symptomathology (depresive symptoms, somatic complaints) may be important in the proccess of detection of mental health problems in PC. Both days of work lost and the number of visits to general practioner appear to be two determinant factors.