Estimating mental distress in Vietnam: the use of the SRQ-20.
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.
Richardson
Lisa K
LK
Murdoch University, Perth, WA, Australia.
Amstadter
Ananda B
AB
Kilpatrick
Dean G
DG
Gaboury
Mario T
MT
Tran
Trinh Luong
TL
Trung
Lam Tu
LT
Tam
Nguyen Thanh
NT
Tuan
Tran
T
Buoi
La Thi
LT
Ha
Tran Thu
TT
Thach
Tran Duc
TD
Acierno
Ron
R
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