This study examined the prevalence of psychiatric disorders and assessed factors that are assumed to be related to recognition of this morbidity among clinical patients. A total of 794 patients aged 18 years or older participated in the study. Using an Arabic-translated version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-28), the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity was found to be 61%. The highest prevalence rates of psychiatric disorders were found in the 40 years and older age group, in female subjects, in uneducated and highly educated groups, in unemployed individuals, and in patients who were perceived to have 'fair' or 'poor' physical health. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that unemployment and perceived severity of physical illness were positively correlated with psychiatric disorders, but no significant correlation was found with sex, age or level of education. The physicians in the present study were able to detect morbidity in only 24% of the patients. Among patients with psychiatric disorders, recognition of this morbidity was significantly greater in women, in patients who had consulted with their family doctors, in patients previously known to their physicians, and in patients with mild physical illness than in their counterparts. The most common lines of psychiatric management used in this study were referral to psychiatrists (47%) and psychotropic medication (16%).