title: Estimating mental distress in Vietnam: the use of the SRQ-20.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Community-based estimates of psychopathology prevalence in developing countries such as Vietnam, are needed to reduce presumed significant burden of poor mental health.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study derived population-based prevalence estimates of mental distress, as measured by the SRQ-20, in a community sample of 4,981 adults living in Vietnam. This study also examined correlates of mental distress based on SRQ-20 caseness indications. Risk and protective factors were identified in terms of their unique contribution to caseness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using a cut-off of 7/8, 19.2% of the sample was considered to be a probable case (n = 954), with females endorsing more items than males. Marital status and employment status were not associated with mental health distress. Higher wealth, endorsing religious affiliation, and self-reports of good health were associated with lower SRQ-20 scores. Age and being female were associated with higher SRQ-20 scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A single item was as adequate a measure of wealth as multi-item rating scales. Our estimate of mental distress using the SRQ-20 is much greater than that of other studies, and in contrast to western prevalence studies, age was not a protective factor in this study. The SRQ-20 is a brief, cost-effective and reasonably valid measure of both community and individual mental distress.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Lisa K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: Ananda B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Amstadter
authors.forename: Dean G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Kilpatrick
authors.forename: Mario T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Gaboury
authors.forename: Trinh Luong
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Tran
authors.forename: Lam Tu
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Trung
authors.forename: Nguyen Thanh
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Tam
authors.forename: Tran
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tuan
authors.forename: La Thi
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Buoi
authors.forename: Tran Thu
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Tran Duc
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Thach
authors.forename: Ron
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Acierno
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D008603:Mental Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D012737:Sex Factors; D014744:Vietnam / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult