title: The design and methods of the mental health module in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Adults (DEGS1-MH).
abstract: DEGS1-MH is part of the first wave of the German Health Interview and Examination Survey (DEGS1) covering all relevant health issues. Aims of DEGS1-MH are to supplement DEGS1 by describing (1) the distribution and frequency, the severity and the impairments of a wide range of mental disorders, (2) risk factors as well as patterns of help-seeking and health care utilization, and (3) associations between mental and somatic disorders, (4) and by comparisons with a similar survey in the late 1990s (GHS-MHS), longitudinal trends and changes in morbidity over time. Out of all eligible DEGS1 respondents (nationally representative sample aged 18-79), N = 5318 subjects (conditional response rate 88%) were examined at their place of residence by clinically trained interviewers with a modified version of the standardized, computer-assisted Composite International Diagnostic Interview (DEGS-CIDI). Innovative additions were: a comprehensive neuropsychological examination, a broader assessment of psychosis-like experiences, disorder-specific disabilities, help-seeking and health care utilization. The mental health module and its combination with the assessment of somatic and other health issues in DEGS1 allow for internationally unique, detailed and comprehensive analyses about mental disorders and the association of mental and somatic health issues in the community, constituting an improved basis for regular future surveys of this sort.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, Technische Universität Dresden, Germany. jacobi@psychologie.tu-dresden.de
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jacobi
authors.forename: Simon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mack
authors.forename: Anja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerschler
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Scholl
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Höfler
authors.forename: Jens
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Siegert
authors.forename: Ariane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bürkner
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Preiss
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spitzer
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Busch
authors.forename: Ulfert
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hapke
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Gaebel
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Maier
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zielasek
authors.forename: Hans-Ulrich
authors.initials: HU
authors.lastname: Wittchen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006304:Health Status; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological / Q000379:methods*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012737:Sex Factors; D055815:Young Adult