title: Prevalence and predictors of mental disorders in intentionally and unintentionally injured emergency center patients.
abstract: Little is known about the prevalence and predictors of mental disorders among injured emergency center (EC) patients in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Patients presenting with either an intentional or unintentional injury were recruited (N = 200). Mental health, injury, and psychological trauma histories were assessed. Descriptive statistics and logistic regressions were conducted, and predictors of current mental disorder were identified. Diagnostic criteria for a current mental disorder, including substance use disorders, were met by 59.5% of the participants. Compared with those with an unintentional injury, the intentionally injured participants were more likely to be diagnosed with a current mental disorder (66.9% vs. 48.8%, p = .01). High frequencies of previous intentional injuries predicted for current mental disorder (OR = 1.46, 95% CI 1.08-1.98), whereas male gender and witnessed community violence predicted substance use disorder diagnoses. The findings indicate that injured EC patients, particularly those with intentional injuries, are at risk for mental disorders. Psychosocial interventions in the EC context can potentially make an important contribution in reducing the burden of mental disorders and injuries in LMICs.
authors.affiliation: *Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa; and †Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Science, University of California Los Angeles.
authors.forename: Claire
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: van der Westhuizen
authors.forename: Gail
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wyatt
authors.forename: John K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Dan J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Stein
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sorsdahl
mesh_terms: D000059:Accidents / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000328:Adult; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000453:epidemiology; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D017281:Cost of Illness; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D016728:Self-Injurious Behavior / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014754:Violence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology*