The 10/90 divide in mental health research: trends over a 10-year period.
A search (precision value 94%, recall value 93%) of the ISI Web of Science database (1992-2001) revealed that mental health publications accounted for 3-4% of the health literature. A 10/90 divide in internationally accessible mental health literature was evident and remained undiminished through 10 years as low- and middle-income countries (n=152) contributed only 6%, high-income countries (n=54) 94%, and 14 leading high-income countries (with more than 1% contribution for majority of years under consideration) contributed 90% of internationally accessible mental health research. Steps should be taken to improve the research infrastructure and capacity to conduct and disseminate mental health research in general, and on a priority basis in low- and middle-income countries.
Saxena
Shekhar
S
Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse, World Health Organization, CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland. saxenas@who.int
Paraje
Guillermo
G
Sharan
Pratap
P
Karam
Ghassan
G
Sadana
Ritu
R
D015706:Bibliometrics; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019049:Developed Countries; D006801:Humans; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010506:Periodicals as Topic; D011643:Publishing / Q000639:trends*