Effects of a culturally sensitive assessment on symptom profiles in native Dutch and Moroccan patients with a first psychosis referral.

Previous studies have reported a higher incidence of psychosis in Moroccan immigrants in the Netherlands than among native-born residents. However, this disparity was substantially attenuated when cultural differences in symptom presentation were taken into account. To better understand the impact of different diagnostic procedures on incidence rates, we examined the effects of the use of a culturally sensitive diagnostic interview, compared to a standard semi-structured diagnostic interview, on symptom profiles among Moroccan immigrant and native Dutch patients in the Netherlands.

Predictive validity of a culturally informed diagnosis of schizophrenia: a 30 month follow-up study with first episode psychosis.

Unlabelled: Previous research has shown discrepancies between a standard diagnostic interview for schizophrenia (CASH) and a culture sensitive version of this instrument (CASH-CS) in Moroccan patients. More specifically we showed that among Moroccan immigrants the CASH-CS resulted in fewer patients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia compared with diagnoses based on the CASH, whereas for Native Dutch patients there was no difference between the CASH and the CASH-CS. The aim of the current study was to compare the predictive validity of a diagnosis of schizophrenia according to the CASH and CASH-CS.

Mental health service use and outcomes after the Enschede fireworks disaster: a naturalistic follow-up study.

Objective: This study documented the number of people seeking help for mental health problems after a fireworks disaster in Enschede, the Netherlands. It describes their diagnostic characteristics, interventions provided, and their results.

Methods: Researchers coded data from intakes and medical charts of all patients who sought help (N=1,659) and entered treatment (N=663) at a disaster relief service between May 13, 2000 (day of the disaster), and June 1, 2004.

Growing up in the shadow of Chornobyl: adolescents' risk perceptions and mental health.

Purpose: Despite long-term research on risk perceptions of adults after ecological disasters, little is known about the legacy for the generation exposed to toxic elements as infants. This study examined Chornobyl-related risk perceptions and their relationship to mental health in adolescents raised in Kyiv in the aftermath of the accident.

Methods: Risk perceptions, 12-month DSM-IV major depression (MDD)/generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and current symptomatology were examined in 265 evacuee adolescents, 261 classmate controls, and 327 population-based controls 19 years after the accident.

Subjective health legacy of the Chornobyl accident: a comparative study of 19-year olds in Kyiv.

Background: Since the Chornobyl accident in 1986, the physical health of exposed children in Ukraine has been monitored, but their perceived health has not been studied. This study examines health perceptions of Ukrainian adolescents exposed to radioactive fallout in utero or as infants, and the epidemiologic and Chornobyl-related influences on self-reported health.

Method: We assessed three groups of 19-year olds in Kyiv: 262 evacuees from contaminated areas near the plant; 261 classmate controls; and 325 population-based controls.

Self-assessment of need for help in patients undergoing psychiatric treatment.

Needs assessment for patients in mental health care is an important tool. When used systematically, needs assessment can improve the quality of care and facilitate a process of 'shared decision making' in service provision. A self-report questionnaire, the Needs Assessment Scale (NAS), was developed for use in larger survey samples.

The need for culture sensitive diagnostic procedures: a study among psychotic patients in Morocco.

Objective: We examine the procedural validity of a standardized instrument for the diagnosis of psychotic disorders in Morocco.

Method: Twenty-nine patients from Casablanca, Morocco, with a psychotic or mood disorder were examined using the Comprehensive Assessment of Symptoms and History (CASH) an adapted version using cultural formulation to make the instrument more culturally sensitive (CASH-CS). Chance corrected agreement was calculated between diagnoses based on these two versions of CASH and independent clinical diagnoses according to local psychiatrists.

Psychological and perceived health effects of the Chernobyl disaster: a 20-year review.

The mental health impact of Chernobyl is regarded by many experts as the largest public health problem unleashed by the accident to date. This paper reviews findings reported during the 20-y period after the accident regarding stress-related symptoms, effects on the developing brain, and cognitive and psychological impairments among highly exposed cleanup workers. With respect to stress-related symptoms, the rates of depressive, anxiety (especially post-traumatic stress symptoms), and medically unexplained physical symptoms are two to four times higher in Chernobyl-exposed populations compared to controls, although rates of diagnosable psychiatric disorders do not appear to be elevated.

Smoking initiation and nicotine dependence symptoms in Ukraine: findings from the Ukraine World Mental Health survey.

Objectives: Cigarette smoking is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in former Soviet countries. This study examined the personal, familial and psychiatric risk factors for smoking initiation and development of nicotine dependence symptoms in Ukraine.

Study Design: Cross-sectional survey.

Demand-oriented care: the development and validation of a measuring instrument.

Objectives: Demand-oriented care has recently become a key topic in the area of care provision, fitting into the modern pursuit for patient autonomy. This paper introduces a measuring instrument to assess demand-orientation in mental health care.

Method: A concept mapping procedure was used to understand the concept of demand-orientation.

Epidemiology of psychiatric and alcohol disorders in Ukraine: findings from the Ukraine World Mental Health survey.

Background: This study presents the lifetime, 12-month, and 1-month prevalence estimates of nine psychiatric and alcohol disorders in Ukraine assessed as part of the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health (WMH) research program. The Ukraine WMH survey is the first psychiatric epidemiologic study in a former Soviet Union country to administer a structured psychiatric interview to a nationally representative sample.

Method: In 2002, a national probability sample of 4,725 respondents ages 18 and older were interviewed with the WMH version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI).

Epidemiology of heavy alcohol use in Ukraine: findings from the world mental health survey.

Aims: To describe the epidemiology of heavy alcohol use in Ukraine, using data from the world mental health (WMH) survey in Ukraine.

Methods: The WMH composite international diagnostic interview was administered in 2002 to a national probability sample of Ukrainian adults (n=4725). An algorithm for classifying heavy use in the past year was developed from self-reports about the quantity and frequency of drinking, and its convergent validity was demonstrated.