The British Journal of Psychiatry (2009) 195: 354-363. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.108.050187
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Mental health research priorities in low- and middle-income countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean

P. Sharan, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India

C. Gallo, MSc

Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular y Farmacología, and Laboratorios de Investigación y Desarrollo, Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

O. Gureje, DSc

Department of Psychiatry, University of Ibadan, Nigeria, Africa

E. Lamberte, PhD

Social Development Research Center, De La Salle University, Manila, Philippines

J. J. Mari, PhD

Department of Psychiatry, Federal University of São Paulo, Brazil

G. Mazzotti, PhD

Facultad de Ciencias y Filosofía and Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia, Lima, Peru

V. Patel, PhD

London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, UK, and Sangath, India

L. Swartz, PhD

Department of Psychology, Stellenbosch University, and Human Sciences Research Council, Cape Town, South Africa

S. Olifson, MSc

Global Forum for Health Research, Geneva, Switzerland

I. Levav, MD

Mental Health Services, Ministry of Health, Jerusalem, Israel

A. de Francisco, MD

Global Forum for Health Research, Geneva, Switzerland

S. Saxena, MD

Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland

the World Health Organization–Global Forum for Health Research – Mental Health Research Mapping Project Group*

Correspondence: Pratap Sharan, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi – 110029, India. Email: pratapsharan{at}yahoo.com

Declaration of interest

P.S. has received a research grant as a principal investigator from Eli Lilly after completion of the ‘Mental Health: Mapping of Research Capacity in Low- and Middle-Income Countries’ project.

* Group members are listed in the Appendix.

Background

Studies suggest a paucity of and lack of prioritisation in mental health research from low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries.

Aims

To investigate research priorities in mental health among researchers and other stakeholders in LAMI countries.

Method

We used a two-stage design that included identification, through literature searches and snowball technique, of researchers and stakeholders in 114 countries of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean; and a mail survey on priorities in research.

Results

The study identified broad agreement between researchers and stakeholders and across regions regarding research priorities. Epidemiology (burden and risk factors), health systems and social science ranked highest for type of research. Depression/anxiety, substance use disorders and psychoses; and children and adolescents, women, and people exposed to violence/trauma were prioritised among the disorders and population groups respectively. Important criteria for prioritising research were burden of disease, social justice, and availability of funds. Stakeholder groups differed in the importance they gave to the personal interest of researchers as a criterion for prioritising research. Researchers’ and stakeholders’ priorities were consistent with burden of disease estimates, however suicide was underprioritised compared with its burden. Researchers’ and stakeholders’ priorities were also largely congruent with the researchers’ projects.

Conclusions

The results of this first ever conducted survey of researchers and stakeholders regarding research priorities in mental health suggest that it should be possible to develop consensus at regional and international levels regarding the research agenda that is necessary to support health system objectives in LAMI countries.


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R. Araya
Invited commentary on... Mental health research priorities in low- and middle-income countries
The British Journal of Psychiatry, October 1, 2009; 195(4): 364 - 365.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]