Abstract
In the field of mental health surveys across nations, the World Health Organization (WHO) has led the way. From the International Pilot Study of Schizophrenia to Surveys of Depression and Personality Disorders, cross-cultural studies have been conducted which have looked at the prevalence of psychiatric disorders. There are positive reasons for doing this. Cross-cultural comparisons may give us a clue not only to variation in rates, but also in identifying similarities and differences in presentations, symptoms and outcomes. In due course these comparisons may lead to identifying aetiological factors and perhaps culturally relevant therapeutic interventions.
This volume brings together results from 27 countries as part of the World Mental Health Surveys. The editors set the scene: mental disorders are indeed the largest class of diseases which show a substantial discordance between societal burden and health care expenditures. The World Mental Health Survey was an effort to focus the attention of health policy makers on the question of the unmet need of mentally ill individuals and the incentives for policy makers to look at burden of disease and burden of care. Using these surveys, it should be possible to understand the needs and burdens, along with the economic burden and outcomes in respective countries. The aim of World Mental Health Survey was to carry out vigorous population surveys and the current volume is the first in a series reporting key findings.
The volume is divided into four sections. The first six chapters describe in detail the method of sample selection, training, use of interviews and translation procedures and translation assessments. The second section, comprising 16 chapters, is collated under different regional offices of the WHO from the Americas, Africa, Mediterranean, Europe and Western Pacific. The third section is in four chapters and provides some cross-national comparisons, looking at prevalence, delay and failure in treatment seeking and recent treatments. The last chapter provides an overview for the future. This volume will be of immense value to psychiatric epidemiologists, researchers and clinicians.