title: Regional differences in psychiatric disorders in Chile.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Depto. de Psiquiatría y Salud Mental, Universidad de Concepción, Casilla 60-C, Concepción, Chile. bvicent@udec.cl
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Vicente
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kohn
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rioseco
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saldivia
authors.forename: Gonzalo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Navarrette
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veloso
authors.forename: Silverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Torres
mesh_terms: 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