scholarly journals Antidepressant use in over-indebted individuals compared to the general population in Germany

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
J Warth ◽  
N Beckmann ◽  
M-T Puth ◽  
J Tillmann ◽  
J Porz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
General Population ◽  
Sex Education ◽  
Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
General Population Sample ◽  
Antidepressant Use

Abstract Background About ten percent of European households across all socioeconomic groups are considered over-indebted due to ongoing difficulties meeting financial commitments and living expenses. Studies found an association between over-indebtedness and physical and mental health such as depression independent of standard socioeconomic status measures. However, antidepressant use in the over-indebted population has been understudied. In view of the substantial economic and social burden of mental illness in Europe, the aim of this study was to examine the association between over-indebtedness and antidepressant use in Germany to advance the understanding of socioeconomic inequalities in mental health. Methods We conducted a cross-sectional survey among clients of 70 debt advice agencies in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, in 2017 (OID), and merged data with the first wave of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey (DEGS1) representative of the general population. We used descriptive statistics and multiple logistic regression analysis to examine antidepressant use in the previous 7 days (OID: n = 699; DEGS1: n = 7115). Results Antidepressant use was more frequent in the over-indebted (12.3%) compared to the general population sample (5.0%). After adjustment for age, sex, education, employment, marital status and chronic disease, over-indebted respondents were more likely to use antidepressants than the general population sample (aOR 1.83; 95% CI 1.35-2.48). Conclusions Prevalence of antidepressant use was higher in the over-indebted compared to the general population. The association between over-indebtedness and antidepressant use cannot be fully explained by standard socioeconomic measures. Over-indebtedness reflects a relevant public health issue that needs to be addressed in health care, social policy and research. There is an urgent need to develop public health activities that specifically target those at risk of mental illness and over-indebtedness. Key messages Over-indebtedness is associated with antidepressant use. Public health interventions are needed to prevent adverse health effects of over-indebtedness and safeguard access to care according to need.

scholarly journals Long-term mental health and social support in victims of disaster: comparison with a general population sample – ERRATUM

BJPsych Open ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siri Thoresen ◽  
Marianne Skogbrott Birkeland ◽  
Filip K. Arnberg ◽  
Tore Wentzel-Larsen ◽  
Ines Blix
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
General Population ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
General Population Sample

scholarly journals Long-term mental health and social support in victims of disaster: comparison with a general population sample

BJPsych Open ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Siri Thoresen ◽  
Marianne Skogbrott Birkeland ◽  
Filip K. Arnberg ◽  
Tore Wentzel-Larsen ◽  
Ines Blix
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Social Support ◽  
General Population ◽  
Effect Size ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Depression Symptoms ◽  
General Population Sample ◽  
Anxiety Depression

BackgroundTrauma and traumatic bereavement have well-known consequences for mental health, but little is known about long-term adjustment, particularly with respect to health-protective factors.AimsTo assess the levels of anxiety/depression and perceived social support among the survivors and the bereaved 26 years after the Scandinavian Star ferry disaster compared with expected levels from the general population.MethodAnxiety/depression and social support were assessed in face-to-face interviews with the survivors and the bereaved (N = 165, response rate 58%). Expected scores were calculated for each participant based on the means and proportions for each age and gender combination from a general population sample. We computed the ratio between expected and observed scores, standardised mean differences with 95% confidence intervals and standardised effect sizes.ResultsWe found an elevated level of anxiety/depression symptoms in the victims (Mdiff = 0.28, 95% CI 0.18, 0.38; effect size 0.43, 95% CI 0.31, 0.55) and a significant excess of individuals with a clinically significant level of symptoms. The observed level of perceived social support was significantly lower than that expected (Mdiff = −0.57, 95% CI −0.70, −0.44; effect size −0.73, 95% CI −0.89, −0.57). This was the case for both survivors and those who were bereaved and for both men and women.ConclusionsThis study reveals that disaster survivors and the bereaved reported elevated levels of anxiety and depression symptoms 26 years after the event. They also reported a markedly reduced level of social support. Traumas and post-traumatic responses may thus cause lasting harm to interpersonal relationships.Declaration of interestNone.

scholarly journals The public's knowledge of psychiatrists: questionnaire survey

2001 ◽  
Vol 25 (11) ◽  
pp. 429-432 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Williams ◽  
A. Cheyne ◽  
S. MacDonald
Keyword(s):  
Mental Illness ◽  
General Population ◽  
Psychiatric Illness ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
Psychiatric Training ◽  
General Population Sample ◽  
Outpatient Group ◽  
Drug Treatments ◽  
Level Of Knowledge ◽  
The Uk

Aims and MethodOne objective of the Royal College of Psychiatrists' stigma campaign is to improve the public's knowledge about psychiatric illness. There has been little work in the UK on the public's knowledge of the training of psychiatrists and the treatments they use. Using a questionnaire, we compared a sample representing the general population (n=223) with a sample attending psychiatric outpatients (n=67) to assess their level of knowledge.ResultsHalf of the general population sample did not know that psychiatrists were medically qualified, and 80% underestimated the length of psychiatric training. There was variable knowledge of the conditions treated by psychiatrists and treatment methods used, with the outpatient group having better knowledge of drug treatments.CLINICAL IMPLICATIONIf the general public do not know about the training and expertise of psychiatrists, this is likely to limit their willingness to seek treatment for mental illness.

Antidepressant use in low- middle- and high-income countries: a World Mental Health Surveys report

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Alan E. Kazdin ◽  
Chi-Shin Wu ◽  
Irving Hwang ◽  
Victor Puac-Polanco ◽  
Nancy A. Sampson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
General Population ◽  
Sleep Problems ◽  
Population Sample ◽  
High Income ◽  
World Health ◽  
Perceived Effectiveness ◽  
World Mental Health ◽  
Antidepressant Use ◽  
Reasons For Use

Abstract Background The most common treatment for major depressive disorder (MDD) is antidepressant medication (ADM). Results are reported on frequency of ADM use, reasons for use, and perceived effectiveness of use in general population surveys across 20 countries. Methods Face-to-face interviews with community samples totaling n = 49 919 respondents in the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys asked about ADM use anytime in the prior 12 months in conjunction with validated fully structured diagnostic interviews. Treatment questions were administered independently of diagnoses and asked of all respondents. Results 3.1% of respondents reported ADM use within the past 12 months. In high-income countries (HICs), depression (49.2%) and anxiety (36.4%) were the most common reasons for use. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), depression (38.4%) and sleep problems (31.9%) were the most common reasons for use. Prevalence of use was 2–4 times as high in HICs as LMICs across all examined diagnoses. Newer ADMs were proportionally used more often in HICs than LMICs. Across all conditions, ADMs were reported as very effective by 58.8% of users and somewhat effective by an additional 28.3% of users, with both proportions higher in LMICs than HICs. Neither ADM class nor reason for use was a significant predictor of perceived effectiveness. Conclusion ADMs are in widespread use and for a variety of conditions including but going beyond depression and anxiety. In a general population sample from multiple LMICs and HICs, ADMs were widely perceived to be either very or somewhat effective by the people who use them.

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