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Research capacity for mental health in low- and middle-income countries
Saxena, Shekhar de Francisco, Andrés Olifson, Sylvie Sharan, Pratap
Saxena, Shekhar
de Francisco, Andrés
Olifson, Sylvie
Sharan, Pratap
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s14837e.pdf
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Abstract
"Mental and neurological disorders are responsible for 13% of the global burden of disease. In addition, more than half of the 10 leading risk factors that cause one third of premature deaths worldwide have behavioural determinants, such as unsafe sex, tobacco or alcohol consumption, etc. Despite this evidence, mental health is a neglected and an underresearched area of public health, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This project was initiated by the Global Forum and WHO to provide an account of the current status of mental health research in 114 LMICs in Africa (52), Asia (32) and Latin America and the Caribbean (30) by: (1) mapping actors working in the field of mental health research; (2) mapping current research agendas; (3) describing the process of setting priorities for mental health research; and (4) describing the dissemination of such research and its impact on mental health policy and practice. Researchers, decision-makers, university administrators and association officers working in the area of mental health were enumerated through an extensive, standardized search of indexed (Medline and PsycINFO databases) and non-indexed (local journals, unpublished papers, conference proceedings, and reports) literature. Over 10 000 relevant articles were identified, along with 4633 mental health researchers and 3829 other stakeholders. Surveys conducted with each of the four groups yielded information on research production, priorities and funding. In-depth interviews with key informants elicited views on the interface between policy and research. Fifty-seven per cent of the 114 LMICs were found to contribute fewer than five articles to the international mental health indexed literature for a 10-year period (1993–2003), while very few articles could be identified from non-indexed sources in almost 70% of the countries, suggesting a paucity of mental health research (and researchers) in many LMICs. Some countries, on the other hand, such as Argentina, Brazil, China, India, the Republic of Korea and South Africa contributed significantly to international mental health publications – a finding that attests to notable variations in mental health research production within as well as across regions. The survey results showed broad agreement among researchers and other mental health related stakeholders, and across regions, regarding priorities for mental health research in LMICs. Epidemiological studies of burden and risk factors, health systems research, and social science research were the highest ranked types of needed research. Depression/anxiety, substance use disorders, and psychoses were identified as the top three priority disorders, while prioritized population groups were children and adolescents, women, and persons exposed to violence/trauma. The most important criteria for prioritizing research were burden of disease, social justice, and availability of funds, although researchers and other stakeholders differed markedly regarding the importance of personal interest of researchers as a criterion for prioritizing research."(pg 1)
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Conference proceedings
Date
2007
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294028654X
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With permission of the license/copyright holder