Family burden related to mental and physical disorders in the world: results from the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) surveys

Objective: To assess prevalence and correlates of family caregiver burdens associated with mental and physical conditions worldwide. Methods: Cross-sectional community surveys asked 43,732 adults residing in 19 countries of the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys about chronic physical and mental health conditions of first-degree relatives and associated objective (time, financial) and subjective (distress, embarrassment) burdens. Magnitudes and associations of burden are examined by kinship status and family health problem; population-level estimates are provided. Results: Among the 18.9-40.3% of respondents in high, upper-middle, and low/lower-middle income countries with first-degree relatives having serious health problems, 39.0-39.6% reported burden. Among those, 22.9-31.1% devoted time, 10.6-18.8% had financial burden, 23.3-27.1% reported psychological distress, and 6.0-17.2% embarrassment. Mean caregiving hours/week was 12.9-16.5 (83.7-147.9 hours/week/100 people aged 18+). Mean financial burden was 15.1% of median family income in high, 32.2% in upper-middle, and 44.1% in low/lower-middle income countries. A higher burden was reported by women than men, and for care of parents, spouses, and children than siblings. Conclusions: The uncompensated labor of family caregivers is associated with substantial objective and subjective burden worldwide. Given the growing public health importance of the family caregiving system, it is vital to develop effective interventions that support family caregivers. .

A Nationwide Epidemiological Study of Mental Disorders in Korea(XVIII): Cross-national Epidemiology of Social Phobia / 신경정신의학

The nationwide epidemiological study of mental disorders including social phobia in Korea using DIS-III Korean Version was conducted in the Capital City of Korea(Seoul) and 20 rural areas and compaired to the other 3 countries. The results were as follows: 1) Total number of study of Korea was 5.100, USA 18571, Canada 3258 and Puerto Rico 1513. 2) The highest response rate was Puerto Rico and Korea, USA and Canada in order. 3) Female ratio was highest in the USA and Canada, next is Puerto Rico and Korea. 4) The lifetime prevalance of social phobia of the USA was 2.6%, Canada 1.7%, Puerto Rico 1.0% and Korea 0.5%. The Highest ratio was the USA and Canada, Puerto Rico and Korea in male and in female in order. 5) Mean age of onset, Canada was earliest(14.6yrs. old) and USA(15.8), Pueno Rico(19.8) and Korea(24.3). In male the earliest was USA and Canada, Puerto Rico and Korea. Onset of social phobia before onset of other psychiatric disorder, the highest was Puerto Rico and USA Korea and Canada. 6) Comorbidity was the highest in the USA and Canada, Puerto Rico and Korea. 7) The effect of social phobia of the risk of suicide attempts in persons with any other psychiatric disorder, in case of comorbid with social phobia was much more frequent than not comorbid with social phobia. 8) Eating fear in front of people was the highest in the USA and Canada, Korea and Puerto Rico in order. Fear of speaking in front of group was the highest in Puerto Rico and USA Canada and Korea. Fear of speaking to strangers was the highest in Korea and Canada, USA and Puerto Rico.

Cross-national study on the EEG of school children with behavioral problems and ADD—H from China,Japan and South Korea / 中国心理卫生杂志

With the child behavioral questionnaire developed by Rutter,39 Chinesechildren(group 1-C),27 Japanese children(group 1-J)and 87 South Korean children(group1-S)were identfied as with behavioral problems,together with matched norman children of27 from China(group 2-C),30 from Japan(group 2-J)and 26 from South Korea(group 2-S)respectively,to engage in this EEG study.In a comparison between behavioral problemschildren and normal ones in each country no significant difference was found in EEG data.However,in the comparison among group 1s,group 2s and ADD-H children(group 3s:41from China as group 3-C,21 from Japan as group 3-J and,29 from South Korea as group3-S)diagnosed clinically with DSM-Ⅲ,significant difference among groups was found inEEG analyses in each country respectively.Some index of slow wave of group 3s'EEG weremuch higher than that of normal ones(group 2s).EEG data from group 3-C and gruop 3-Jshowed that the frequency-peak moved to slow frequency area.This indicates the develop-ment of ADD-H may associate with some functional abnormalities of nervious system.