Social functioning in schizophrenia: what is the influence of gender?

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Background and Objectives: To examine the influence of gender on social functioning in patients with schizophrenia Methods: A sample of 318 schizophrenic (216 men and 102 women) (DSM-IV criteria) outpatients from four Spanish centers were administered the following instruments: Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), Disability Assessment Scale (DAS-sv), and Global Assessment of Functioning (GAF) Scale. A regression model was created with DAS and GAF as dependent variables, and gender, and other predictor variables as independent variables. Separate regression models were then generated for females and males. Results: Women had a better social functioning than men, and after adjusting for others predictor variables gender was a significant predictor specially for occupational functioning. In gender specific analyses, we found that the predictive variables for social functioning have more similarities than differences between men and women. Conclusions: In our sample, women showed a better social functioning than men specially in occupational functioning (AU)

Prevalencia de los trastornos mentales y factores asociados: resultados del estudio ESEMeD-España / Prevalence of mental disorders and associated factors: results from the ESEMeD-Spain study

Fundamento y objetivo: El proyecto ESEMeD-España es un estudio epidemiológico sobre los trastornos mentales en nuestro país. Se presentan la prevalencia-año y prevalencia-vida de los principales trastornos del estado de ánimo, de ansiedad y de abuso de alcohol, así como la influencia de los factores de riesgo sociodemográficos en su presencia y la edad de inicio de los trastornos. Sujetos y método: Encuesta personal domiciliaria realizada a una muestra representativa de la población española mayor de 18 años de 5.473 individuos. El instrumento utilizado fue la versión del Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI) desarrollada para la iniciativa Encuestas de Salud Mental de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (WHO World Mental Health Surveys). La tasa de respuesta fue del 78,6%. Los resultados se presentan ponderados a la población española. Resultados: Un 19,5% de las personas presentaron un trastorno mental en algún momento de su vida (prevalencia-vida) y un 8,4% en los últimos 12 meses (prevalencia-año). El trastorno mental más frecuente es el episodio depresivo mayor, que tiene un 3,9% de prevalencia-año y un 10,5% de prevalencia-vida. Después del episodio depresivo mayor, los trastornos con mayor prevalencia-vida son la fobia específica, el trastorno por abuso de alcohol y la distimia. Los factores asociados a padecer un trastorno mental son el sexo femenino, estar separado, divorciado o viudo, y estar desempleado, de baja laboral o con una incapacidad. La fobia social, la agorafobia y la fobia específica aparecen a edades más tempranas. Los trastornos del estado de ánimo (episodio de depresión mayor y distimia), junto con el trastorno de angustia, muestran una aparición más tardía. Conclusiones: El estudio ESEMeD-España puede proporcionar resultados necesarios para conocer el impacto de los trastornos mentales en España

Background and objective: The ESEMeD-Spain project is an epidemiological study about mental disorders in Spain. We present 12 month-prevalence and lifetime-prevalence of the main mood, anxiety and alcohol use disorders; the influence of sociodemographic factors on its presence and age of onset of the disorders. Subjects and method: Cross-sectional household survey of a representative sample of the population of Spain 18 years or older. Sample size was 5.473 individuals. The WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI) was used. Response rate was 78.6%. Results have been weighted to represent the population of Spain. Results: 19.5% of the individuals presented a mental disorder sometime in their lifetime (lifetime-prevalence) and 8.4% in the last 12 months (12 month-prevalence). The most frequent mental disorder was major depressive episode, with a 12-month prevalence of 3.9% and a lifetime-prevalence of 10.5%. The other most lifetime prevalent disorders were specific phobia, alcohol abuse disorder, and disthymia. Factors associated to presenting a mental disorder were being female, being separated, divorced or widowed, and being unemployed, on sick leave or incapacitated. Social phobia, agoraphobia and specific phobia appear at younger ages, while mood disorders and panic disorder appears later in life. Conclusions: The ESEMeD-Spain study can provide careful outcomes to understand the impact of mental disorders in Spain

An analysis of the costs of treating schizophrenia in Spain: a hierarchical Bayesian approach.

BACKGROUND: Health care decisions should incorporate cost of illness and treatment data, particularly for disorders such as schizophrenia with a high morbidity rate and a disproportionately low allocation of resources. Previous cost of illness analyses may have disregarded geographical aspects relevant for resource consumption and unit cost calculation. AIMS: To compare the utilisation of resources and the care costs of schizophrenic patients in four mental-health districts in Spain (in Madrid, Catalonia, Navarra and Andalusia), and to analyse factors that determine the costs and the differences between areas. METHODS: A treated prevalence bottom-up three year follow-up design was used for obtaining data concerning socio-demography, clinical evolution and the utilisation of services. 1997 reference prices were updated for years 1998-2000 in euros. We propose two different scenarios, varying in the prices applied. In the first (Scenario 0) the reference prices are those obtained for a single geographic area, and so the cost variations are only due to differences in the use of resources. In the second situation (Scenario 1), we analyse the variations in resource utilisation at different levels, using the prices applicable to each healthcare area. Bayesian hierarchical models are used to discuss the factors that determine such costs and the differences between geographic areas. RESULTS: In scenario 0, the estimated mean cost was 4918.948 euros for the first year. In scenario 1 the highest cost was in Gava (Catalonia) and the lowest in Loja (Andalusia). Mean costs were respectively 4547.24 and 2473.98 euros. With respect to the evolution of costs over time, we observed an increase during the second year and a reduction during the third year. Geographical differences appeared in follow-up costs. The variables related to lower treatment costs were: residence in the family household, higher patient age and being in work. On the contrary, the number of relapses is directly related to higher treatment costs. No differences were observed between health areas concerning resource utilisation. DISCUSSION: Calculating the costs of a given disease involves two principal factors: the resource utilisation and the prices. In most studies, emphasis is placed on the analysis of resource utilisation. Other evaluations, however, have recognized the implications of incorporating different prices into the final results. In this study we show both scenarios. The factors that determine the cost of schizophrenia for the Spanish case are similar to the factors encountered in studies carried out in other countries. IMPLICATIONS FOR HEALTH POLICIES: Treatment costs may be reduced by the prevention of psychotic symptoms and relapse. IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH: The use of the same price data in multicentre studies may not be realistic. More effort should be made to obtain price data from all the centres or countries participating in a study. In the present study, only direct healthcare and social costs have been included. Future research should consider informal and indirect costs.