UNDERSTANDING THE LINK BETWEEN MIND AND BODY

The Mind-Body Connection Survey – Key Results

Overall GP Survey Results

  Total
N= 501
There is medical evidence to prove that a mind-body connection exists 390
(78%)*
Understanding the mind-body connection helps me reach diagnosis of an emotional condition more quickly 428
(85%)*
Awareness of the mind-body connection is important in the management of emotional conditions 464
(93%)*
I am concerned about misdiagnosing depressed patients with a pain condition when they actually have depression 314
(63%)*
I probe for painful physical symptoms (i.e. the physical aches and pains associated with depression),when I see a patient with an emotional condition 351
(70%)*
The treatment of painful physical symptoms is important in achieving remission of depression 412
(82%)
There is a need for my colleagues to be educated on the mind-body connection 419
(84%)

GPs who Understand the Mind-Body Connection – Survey Results

GPs who understand the mind-body connection were defined as those who strongly agreed or somewhat agreed to the following statements:
  • There is medical evidence to prove that a mind-body connection exists
  • Serotonin and noradrenaline are involved in the regulation of emotional and pain perception
  • Emotional and pain conditions often occur together because of a shared neurological pathway
Deeply understand the mind-body connection
N= 286
Don’t deeply understand the mind-body connection
N= 215
Years of practising medicine since completing residency 8.6 years 7.0 years
I probe for painful physical symptoms when I see a patient with an emotional condition 234
(82%)*
117
(54%)*
Understanding a mind-body connection helps me reach diagnosis of an emotional condition more quickly 264
(92%)*
164
(76%)*

People with Depression who Discussed the Mind-Body Connection – Survey Results

People with depression who discussed the Mind-Body Connection were defined as those who say yes to:
  • Did you ever discuss the possible connection between emotional symptoms and painful physical symptoms with your PCP/GP?
Discussed the mind-body connection
N= 156
Didn’t discuss the mind-body connection
N=96
Male= 64
Female= 92
Male= 52
Female= 44
I dealt with my symptoms before I was decided to visit my GP/PCP by ignoring them 77
(49%)
61
(64%)
I feel very informed/informed about why my treatment was prescribed/recommended by your GP/PCP 134
(86%)
75
(78%)
I understand what causes my symptoms 114
(73%)
56
(58%)*
Treating both physical and emotional symptoms will help me to recover more quickly 126
(81%)
61
(64%)*

People with Depression who Understand the Mind-Body Connection – Survey Results

People with depression who understand the mind-body connection were defined as those who strongly agreed or somewhat agreed to the following statements:
  • There is medical evidence to prove that your mind has an impact on how your body feels (mind-body connection)
  • There is a link between pain and emotional symptoms
  • Emotional and pain conditions often occur together because of a shared neurological pathway
Understand mind-body connection

N= 112

Don’t understand mind body connection
N=140
Age=37
Male=43
Female=69
Age=41.2
Male=73
Female=67
I have been experiencing symptoms prior to discussing them with my PCP/GP for… 90.4 weeks 148.2 weeks
I discussed the possible connection between emotional and painful physical symptoms with my GP 82
(73%)
74
(53%)
Treating both emotional and pain symptoms will help me to recover more quickly 102
(91%)*
85
(61%)*

– ends –

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