Epidemiology

2020 ◽  
pp. 27-40
Author(s):  
Elizabeth Ryznar ◽  
Harvey Whiteford
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Family Environment ◽  
Catchment Area ◽  
Geographic Area ◽  
Psychiatric Epidemiology ◽  
Global Studies ◽  
Prevention And Treatment ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Disease Study

Psychiatric epidemiology is the study of the distribution and determinants of mental disorders in populations, and the application of this to the prevention and treatment of disorders. Both genetic and environmental factors are involved in the onset and course of mental disorders. The field has evolved from smaller studies in one geographic area, often of patients in hospitals, to larger national and global studies. This chapter discusses studies that have aided this transition: the Epidemiological Catchment Area Study, which was the first to adopt a validated diagnostic instrument; the National Comorbidity Survey, which was the first to establish prevalence in a nationally representative sample; and the Global Burden of Disease Study, which was the first to assess mortality and disability of mental disorders globally. This chapter also discusses epidemiological contributions to understanding the aetiology of mental illness, focusing on a landmark paper separating family environment and genetics in schizophrenia.

Contribution of Epidemiology to Our Understanding of Psychiatric Genetics

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alison K. Merikangas ◽  
Kathleen R. Merikangas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Genetic Risk ◽  
Psychiatric Epidemiology ◽  
Psychiatric Genetics ◽  
Statistical Tools ◽  
Joint Influence ◽  
Service Patterns ◽  
Human Disorders ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Study Designs

The field of psychiatric epidemiology has advanced both methodological and substantive knowledge in our understanding of mental disorders through the following contributions: (1) development of standardized tools that operationalize diagnostic criteria in order to obtain reliable estimates; (2) estimation of the magnitude, correlates and service patterns of mental disorders; (3) documentation of patterns of comorbidity; (4) quantification of disability attributable to mental disorders; and (5) identification of risk and protective factors for mental disorders and their core domains. Community surveys using standardized tools for ascertaining psychiatric disorders have shown that mental disorders are highly prevalent in the general population. With the growing success in identifying genetic risk factors for chronic human disorders, the field of epidemiology will play an important role in defining study designs, appropriate samples, population generalizability, and statistical tools that will facilitate our ability to identify the joint influence of genetic and environmental factors on the susceptibility to mental disorders.

Reductionist thinking and animal models in neuropsychiatric research

2019 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicole M. Baran
Keyword(s):  
Animal Models ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Neuropsychiatric Disorders ◽  
Model Organisms ◽  
Developmental Genetic ◽  
Term Study ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Mechanisms Of Plasticity

AbstractReductionist thinking in neuroscience is manifest in the widespread use of animal models of neuropsychiatric disorders. Broader investigations of diverse behaviors in non-model organisms and longer-term study of the mechanisms of plasticity will yield fundamental insights into the neurobiological, developmental, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to the “massively multifactorial system networks” which go awry in mental disorders.

scholarly journals Risks of Major Mental Disorders and Irritable Bowel Syndrome among the Offspring of Parents with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: A Nationwide Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (9) ◽  
pp. 4679
Author(s):  
Ta-Chuan Yeh ◽  
Ya-Mei Bai ◽  
Shih-Jen Tsai ◽  
Tzeng-Ji Chen ◽  
Chih-Sung Liang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Irritable Bowel Syndrome ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Logistic Regression Models ◽  
Early Implementation ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
Irritable Bowel

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional bowel disorder that is highly comorbid with mental disorders. However, few studies have examined the risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder (MDD), and schizophrenia in the offspring of parents with IBS. We used nationally representative cross-sectional survey data to analyze cross-generational transmission patterns of both IBS and major mental disorders. Odds ratio (OR) was calculated by using logistic regression models with adjustment for potential confounding factors. Offspring of parents with IBS were more likely to develop IBS themselves (OR = 2.41, 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.09–2.78), ADHD (OR = 1.33, 95% CI, 1.08–1.62), and MDD (OR = 1.32, 95% CI, 1.04–1.68) than the controls. Data stratification by parental sex revealed that paternal IBS increased risk of ADHD (OR = 1.34, 95% CI, 1.01–1.77) in the offspring, while maternal IBS increased the risk of MDD (OR = 1.51, 95% CI, 1.11–2.06). This is the first study to reveal parental IBS is associated with IBS, ADHD, and MDD among offspring, suggesting the necessity for early implementation of prevention strategies for at-risk children.

scholarly journals Parenting style and mental disorders in a nationally representative sample of US adolescents

2017 ◽  
Vol 53 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
John David Eun ◽  
Diana Paksarian ◽  
Jian-Ping He ◽  
Kathleen Ries Merikangas
Keyword(s):  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Parenting Style ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Nationally Representative

scholarly journals Deployment-Related Traumatic Events and Suicidal Behaviours in a Nationally Representative Sample of Canadian Armed Forces Personnel

2017 ◽  
Vol 62 (11) ◽  
pp. 795-804 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jitender Sareen ◽  
Tracie O. Afifi ◽  
Tamara Taillieu ◽  
Kristene Cheung ◽  
Sarah Turner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Child Abuse ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Suicidal Behaviour ◽  
Traumatic Events ◽  
Armed Forces ◽  
Canadian Armed Forces ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Nationally Representative ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Suicidal Plans

Objective: Worldwide, there has been substantial controversy with respect to whether military deployment is a risk factor for suicidal behaviour. The present study examined the relationship between lifetime exposure to deployment and deployment-related traumatic events (DRTEs) and past-year suicidal ideation (SI), suicidal plans (SP), and suicidal attempts (SA). Method: Data were analysed from the 2013 Canadian Forces Mental Health Survey (8161 respondents; response rate, 79.8%; aged 18-60 years). A total of 12 individual items assessed exposure to DRTEs (e.g., combat, witnessing human atrocities, feeling responsible for the death of Canadian or ally personnel, knowing someone who was injured or killed). We examined each individual DRTE type as well as the number of types of DRTEs in relation to suicidal behaviour. Results: Lifetime deployment was not significantly associated with suicidal behaviour. In models adjusted for sociodemographic variables, most of the individual DRTE items and the DRTE count variable were significantly associated with suicidal behaviours (adjusted odds ratio ranged between 1.10 and 5.32). When further adjusting for child abuse exposure, these associations were minimally attenuated, and some became nonsignificant. In models adjusting for mental disorders and child abuse, most DRTEs and number of types of DRTEs became nonsignificant in relation to SI, SP, and SA. Conclusions: Active military personnel exposed to increasing number of DRTEs are at increased risk for SI, SP, and SA. However, most of the association between DRTEs and suicidal behaviour is accounted for by child abuse exposure and mental disorders.

scholarly journals Genetic and environmental determinants of children's food preferences

2008 ◽  
Vol 99 (S1) ◽  
pp. S15-S21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jane Wardle ◽  
Lucy Cooke
Keyword(s):  
Family Environment ◽  
Food Preferences ◽  
Twin Studies ◽  
Dietary Quality ◽  
Relative Preference ◽  
The Family ◽  
Sweet Foods ◽  
Genetic And Environmental Factors ◽  
Taste Exposure ◽  
Specific Food

Omnivores have the advantage of a variety of food options but face a challenge in identifying foods that are safe to eat. Not surprisingly, therefore, children show a relative aversion to new foods (neophobia) and a relative preference for familiar, bland, sweet foods. While this may in the past have promoted survival, in the modern food environment it could have an adverse effect on dietary quality. This review examines the evidence for genetic and environmental factors underlying individual differences in children's food preferences and neophobia. Twin studies indicate that neophobia is a strongly heritable characteristic, while specific food preferences show some genetic influence and are also influenced by the family environment. The advantage of the malleability of human food preferences is that dislike of a food can be reduced or even reversed by a combination of modelling and taste exposure. The need for effective guidance for parents who may be seeking to improve the range or nutritional value of foods accepted by their children is highlighted.

scholarly journals Associations between Abortion, Mental Disorders, and Suicidal Behaviour in a Nationally Representative Sample

2010 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 239-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
Natalie P Mota ◽  
Margaret Burnett ◽  
Jitender Sareen
Keyword(s):  
Substance Use ◽  
Suicidal Ideation ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Mental Disorder ◽  
Representative Sample ◽  
Suicide Attempts ◽  
World Health ◽  
Population Attributable Fractions ◽  
Attributable Fractions ◽  
Nationally Representative

Objective: Most previous studies that have investigated the relation between abortion and mental illness have presented mixed findings. We examined the relation between abortion, mental disorders, and suicidality using a US nationally representative sample. Methods: Data came from the National Comorbidity Survey Replication ( n = 3310 women, aged 18 years and older). The World Health Organization-Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used to assess mental disorders based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, criteria and lifetime abortion in women. Multiple logistic regression analyses were employed to examine associations between abortion and lifetime mood, anxiety, substance use, eating, and disruptive behaviour disorders, as well as suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. We calculated the percentage of respondents whose mental disorder came after the first abortion. The role of violence was also explored. Population attributable fractions were calculated for significant associations between abortion and mental disorders. Results: After adjusting for sociodemographics, abortion was associated with an increased likelihood of several mental disorders—mood disorders (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] ranging from 1.75 to 1.91), anxiety disorders (AOR ranging from 1.87 to 1.91), substance use disorders (AOR ranging from 3.14 to 4.99), as well as suicidal ideation and suicide attempts (AOR ranging from 1.97 to 2.18). Adjusting for violence weakened some of these associations. Forall disorders examined, less than one-half of women reported that their mental disorder had begun after the first abortion. Population attributable fractions ranged from 5.8% (suicidal ideation) to 24.7% (drug abuse). Conclusions: Our study confirms a strong association between abortion and mental disorders. Possible mechanisms of this relation are discussed.

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