Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/4

The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) series provides data on the prevalence of treated and non-treated mental health conditions in England's adult population (age 16 and over).

The 2023/4 survey is the fifth in the series, with previous surveys conducted in 1993, 2000, 2007 and 2014. The surveys all used a robust probability sample of adults living in residential households.

The aims of the series are to:

• Estimate the prevalence of a range of mental health conditions according to diagnostic category, including common mental health conditions, psychosis, autism, eating disorder, and substance dependence.
• Screen for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder, gambling behaviour, personality disorder, and suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts and non-suicidal self-harm.
• Examine trends over time in mental health conditions.
• Identify the nature and extent of inequalities in mental health conditions.
• Gauge the level and nature of treatment and service use in relation to mental health conditions.

Fieldwork was carried out between March 2023 and July 2024. As with the preceding surveys, a two-phase approach was used for the assessment of several disorders.

6,912 phase one interviews were carried out by interviewers from the National Centre for Social Research and included structured assessments and screening instruments for mental health conditions and disorders as well as questions covering demographics, general health, service use and risk factors.

880 phase two interviews were carried out by clinically trained research interviewers employed by the University of Leicester. A sub-sample of phase one participants were invited to take part in the second phase assessment, which included assessment of psychosis, autism and eating disorders. The assessment of these conditions requires a more detailed and flexible interview than was possible at the first phase, and the use of clinical judgement in establishing a diagnosis.

As in preceding surveys, APMS 2023/4 data was mostly collected through face-to-face interviewer visits. In 2023/4, an option for remote interviews for phase one was available if required. Full details of fieldwork processes can be found in the APMS 2023/4 Methods documentation.

Each chapter of the report focuses on a specific mental health condition or behaviour. The chapters compare prevalence of mental health conditions by:

• age

• gender identity

• ethnicity

• employment status

• problem debt

• area-level deprivation

• region

• comorbidity

• level and nature of self-reported mental health treatment and service use.

Where conditions or disorders were included in the previous surveys in the series, changes in prevalence are also covered.

This study was funded by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and commissioned by NHS Digital (now merged into NHS England). It was carried out by the National Centre for Social Research, University of Leicester and City St George's, University of London.