Regional differences in psychiatric disorders in Chile.
BACKGROUND
Psychiatric epidemiological surveys in developing countries are rare and are frequently conducted in regions that are not necessarily representative of the entire country. In addition, in large countries with dispersed populations national rates may have low value for estimating the need for mental health services and programs.


METHODS
The Chile Psychiatric Prevalence Study using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview was conducted in four distinct regions of the country on a stratified random sample of 2,978 people. Lifetime and 12-month prevalence and service utilization rates were estimated.


RESULTS
Significant differences in the rates of major depressive disorder, substance abuse disorders, non-affective psychosis, and service utilization were found across the regions. The differential prevalence rates could not be accounted by socio-demographic differences between sites.


CONCLUSIONS
Regional differences across countries may exist that have both implications for prevalence rates and service utilization. Planning mental health services for population centers that span wide geographical areas based on studies conducted in a single region may be misleading, and may result in areas with high need being underserved.
Vicente
Benjamin
B
Depto. de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 60-C, Concepción, Chile. bvicent@udec.cl
Kohn
Robert
R
Rioseco
Pedro
P
Saldivia
Sandra
S
Navarrette
Gonzalo
G
Veloso
Paula
P
Torres
Silverio
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002677:Chile / Q000453:epidemiology; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence