@article {Christensen758, author = {Kaj Sparle Christensen and Tomas Toft and Lisbeth Frostholm and Eva {\O}rnbol and Per Fink and Frede Olesen}, title = {The FIP study: a randomised, controlled trial of screening and recognition of psychiatric disorders.}, volume = {53}, number = {495}, pages = {758--763}, year = {2003}, publisher = {Royal College of General Practitioners}, abstract = {BACKGROUND: Research on questionnaires as screening tools for psychiatric disorders has yielded conflicting results. AIM: To examine the effect of a routinely administered questionnaire on recognition of common psychiatric disorders in general practice. DESIGN OF STUDY: Randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Twenty-eight general practices in Aarhus County, Denmark. METHOD: Thirty-eight general practitioners (GPs) and 1785 consecutive patients, aged 18-65 years old, presenting with a new health problem, participated. Before consultation, patients were screened using a brief screening questionnaire (SQ) including somatisation, anxiety, depression, and alcohol abuse scales. Patients were randomised to one of two groups: 900 questionnaires were disclosed and scored by the GPs, 885 were blinded. A stratified subsample of 701 patients was interviewed after the consultation using a standardised psychiatric research interview (SCAN). RESULTS: Overall the GPs{\textquoteright} recognition rates were 14\% (95\% confidence interval [CI] = -2 to 30) better for depression and 35\% (95\% CI = 2 to 68) better for alcohol problems when SQs were disclosed. Recognition rates for anxiety improved 8\% (95\% CI = -9 to 26) overall. In the case of somatoform disorders, disclosure showed no effect overall. Among those with high SQ scores, however, disclosure increased recognition rates on any mental disorder evaluated. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated limited usefulness for routine screening for common psychiatric disorders. However, findings suggest that the SQ may be useful for case-finding among a subgroup of patients with high SQ scores.}, issn = {0960-1643}, URL = {https://bjgp.org/content/53/495/758}, eprint = {https://bjgp.org/content/53/495/758.full.pdf}, journal = {British Journal of General Practice} }