Mental Disorders Make Up 14% Of Global Disease Burden

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Main Category: Psychology / Psychiatry
Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience;  Depression;  Schizophrenia
Article Date: 05 Sep 2007 - 0:00 PST

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Neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs) make up 14% of the global disease burden, according to The Lancet "Series on Global Mental Health". NPDs contribute more to the total global burden than heart disease, stroke or cancer, because NPDs are so disabling. NPDs include depression, substance and alcohol use disorders, and psychoses.

According to Professor Martin Prince, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London, mental illnesses raise the probability of developing and exacerbating a wide range of physical illnesses. Prof. Prince is one of the writers of "No health without mental health", part of a series of six reviews.

Prof. Prince explained that NPDs are common accompaniments of other communicable and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) - they complicate their treatment, are usually linked to poorer outcomes, including a higher death rate for patients. Prince says we need to carry out more research on these links; especially on the potential for mental health interventions to improve patients' physical outcomes.

Not much research has been carried out on the impact of NPDs on physical illnesses in low and middle income countries. 80% of all NCD deaths and 99% of HIV/AIDS deaths happen in low and middle income countries. As mental healthcare budgets in these countries are low, we need to find some way of measuring the impact of neuropsychiatric disorders.

Prof Prince said "Mental health awareness needs to be integrated into all elements of health and social policy, health-system planning, and delivery of primary and secondary general health care."

The following are NPDs:

-- Schizophrenia
-- Depression
-- Anxiety
-- Bipolar Disorder
-- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
-- Alzheimer's Disease
-- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
-- Eating disorders

Neuropsychiatry is a branch of medicine. It deals with mental disorders attributable to diseases of the nervous system.

The Lancet "Series on Global Mental Health"

Written by: Christian Nordqvist
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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