BACKGROUND: Community-based estimates of psychopathology prevalence in developing countries such as Vietnam, are needed to reduce presumed significant burden of poor mental health. AIMS: This study derived population-based prevalence estimates of mental distress, as measured by the SRQ-20, in a community sample of 4,981 adults living in Vietnam. This study also examined correlates of mental distress based on SRQ-20 caseness indications. Risk and protective factors were identified in terms of their unique contribution to caseness. RESULTS: Using a cut-off of 7/8, 19.2% of the sample was considered to be a probable case (n = 954), with females endorsing more items than males. Marital status and employment status were not associated with mental health distress. Higher wealth, endorsing religious affiliation, and self-reports of good health were associated with lower SRQ-20 scores. Age and being female were associated with higher SRQ-20 scores. CONCLUSIONS: A single item was as adequate a measure of wealth as multi-item rating scales. Our estimate of mental distress using the SRQ-20 is much greater than that of other studies, and in contrast to western prevalence studies, age was not a protective factor in this study. The SRQ-20 is a brief, cost-effective and reasonably valid measure of both community and individual mental distress.
BACKGROUND: Community-based estimates of psychopathology prevalence in developing countries such as Vietnam, are needed to reduce presumed significant burden of poor mental health. AIMS: This study derived population-based prevalence estimates of mental distress, as measured by the SRQ-20, in a community sample of 4,981 adults living in Vietnam. This study also examined correlates of mental distress based on SRQ-20 caseness indications. Risk and protective factors were identified in terms of their unique contribution to caseness. RESULTS: Using a cut-off of 7/8, 19.2% of the sample was considered to be a probable case (n = 954), with females endorsing more items than males. Marital status and employment status were not associated with mental health distress. Higher wealth, endorsing religious affiliation, and self-reports of good health were associated with lower SRQ-20 scores. Age and being female were associated with higher SRQ-20 scores. CONCLUSIONS: A single item was as adequate a measure of wealth as multi-item rating scales. Our estimate of mental distress using the SRQ-20 is much greater than that of other studies, and in contrast to western prevalence studies, age was not a protective factor in this study. The SRQ-20 is a brief, cost-effective and reasonably valid measure of both community and individual mental distress.
Authors: Ruth C Brown; Stephen K Trapp; Erin C Berenz; Tim Bernard Bigdeli; Ron Acierno; Trinh Luong Tran; Lam Tu Trung; Nguyen Thanh Tam; Tran Tuan; La Thi Buoi; Tran Thu Ha; Tran Duc Thach; Ananda B Amstadter Journal: Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol Date: 2013-04-07 Impact factor: 4.328
Authors: David Berle; Zachary Steel; Beverley M Essue; Lisa Keay; Stephen Jan; Huynh Tan Phuc; Maree L Hackett Journal: BMJ Glob Health Date: 2017-01-03
Authors: Jill Murphy; Elliot M Goldner; Charles H Goldsmith; Pham Thi Oanh; William Zhu; Kitty K Corbett; Vu Cong Nguyen Journal: Int J Ment Health Syst Date: 2015-08-19