Frequent attenders in general practice: medical, psychological and social characteristics.

A group of frequent attenders at a general practice surgery have been studied by comparison with a group of age-and sex-matched controls. Frequent attenders are distinguished by a high predisposition to neurotic illness (as measured by the ;N' score of the Eysenck personality questionnaire) and a high prevalence of affective neurosis. Poor past physical health was commonly found among the frequent attenders and comprised for the most part the common chronic physical illnesses. Of the social characteristics studied only marital breakdown was found significantly more often in frequent attenders than controls.