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Burden of disease

Methods of calculating disability from mental disorder

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  03 January 2018

Gavin Andrews*
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
Kristy Sanderson
Affiliation:
St Vincent's Hospital, Sydney
John Beard
Affiliation:
Northern Rivers Institute of Health and Research, Lismore, New South Vvales, Australia
*
Gavin Andrews, UNS Wat St Vincent's Hospital, 299 Forbes St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010, Australia. Tel: 61 2 9332 1013; Fax: 61 2 93324316; e-mail: gavina@crufad.unsw.edu.au

Abstract

Background

The Global Burden of Disease studies are important because they encompass morbidity as well as mortality. Burden due to morbidity is calculated from incidence, duration and disability. There is a dearth of epidemiological measurements of disability.

Method

Data from a quasi-community sample (n=1364) were analysed. Diagnoses of mental and physical disorders, and reports of disability, were based on established methods.

Results

The disabilities reported in mental and physical disorders were comparable. Disability was correlated with comorbidity. The disability in mental disorders was examined by three methods: pure disorders, main problem and regression. It appears that major depression and substance disorder weights were overestimated, and anxiety disorder weights were underestimated in the Global Burden of Disease studies.

Conclusions

A method for disentangling the effects of concurrent comorbidity is presented. The size of burden attributed to mental disorders is of potential benefit for funding mental health services. It is important that we get the estimates right.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1998 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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