Epidemiological survey of mental disorders and knowledge attitude practice upon mental health among people in Bangkok Metropolis.

To find the prevalence of 8 mental disorders and study knowledge, attitude, practice (KAP) upon mental health among people in Bangkok Metropolis a cross sectional, descriptive community survey was conducted. Two thousand, nine hundred and forty eight samples aged 15-60 years were selected by a multistage simple random sampling technique. Data collection was made by qualified interviewers who had experience in mental health care and had been trained to use the questionaires. The questionaires had been modified from DSM-IV and CIDI that had been tested for good validity and reliability. The survey methodology was divided into 2 stages, screening and diagnosis. The results showed that the life time prevalence of mental disorders were; schizophrenia (1.3%), mood disorders; manic episode (9.3%), major depressive episode (19.9%), dysthymia (1%), anxiety disorders (10.2%), mental retardation (1.8%), epilepsy (1.3%), suicidal idea (7.1%), drug and substances use disorders (11.2%), and alcohol use disorders (18.4%). Knowledge score was good, attitude was fairly good, practice was still weak in promotion and prevention aspects. As such, this study was used as a pattern to conduct a national survey in 14 provinces all over Thailand and the results are being summarized. The information is similar to the Global Burden of Diseases. We produced a national training program on "Detection and Management of Depression" for Primary Care Physicians that was, a 2 days' workshop. Other national programs promoting prevention and control have also been set up.

Validity of clinical use of the clock-drawing test in Thai elderly patients with memory problems.

Forty eight elderly Thai patients, 12 demented, 36 non-demented who consecutively attended a geriatric clinic, at Chulalongkorn University Hospital, with a memory problem were recruited in the study which aimed to determine the validity of the clock-drawing test (CDT) and Chula mental test (CMT). Subjects took the Chula Mental Test (CMT) and were asked to draw a clock on a preprinted 12 centimeters circle showing the time of 11:10. Clocks were scored using the Chula Clock-drawing Scoring System (CCSS). Ten subjects voluntarily participated and completed the WAIS test. The best cutoff score of the CMT and the CDT using diagnosis of dementia as a gold standard were 15 and 7 respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting dementia by the CDT were 100 per cent and 94.1 per cent respectively. Sensitivity and specificity for detecting dementia by the CMT were 83.3 per cent 91.7 per cent. The likelihood ratio (95% confidence interval) of the CMT and the CDT were 10 (3.3-30.4) and 17 (4.4-65.2) respectively. There was a good correlation of the CDT score and the CMT score with the WAIS score. Although the CDT was better than the CMT in literate patients, the CDT had limitation of use among illiterate patients but not the CMT. The benefits of simultaneously application on dementia screening was shown. This study showed that the CDT was a valuable, brief method of dementia screening in elderly Thai patients with memory problems.