ABSTRACT
This study examined cross-cultural variability in personality and defenses among Nicaraguan and Swedish healthy individuals, patients with borderline personality disorder and schizophrenic disorders by means of the projective perceptual Defense Mechanism Test. The over-all aim was to test the hypothesis proposed by Anthony Marsella of 'severity related cross-cultural variability' suggesting that differences in symptom profile or personality patterns between cultures are most pronounced among healthy individuals and less so among individuals with severe mental disorders as they are perceived as more universal and less culturally determined. The over-all results showed that cross-cultural differences were in accordance with the proposed hypothesis. In addition, there were significant intracultural differences between the different diagnostic groups in both countries. The conclusion is that the Defense Mechanism Test and Partial Least Squares analysis seem to be powerful methods for personality assessment and potentially for cross-cultural research, and culture-specific norms in the Defense Mechanism Test must be employed.
Subject(s)
Borderline Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Cross-Cultural Comparison , Defense Mechanisms , Personality Assessment/statistics & numerical data , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenic Psychology , Adult , Borderline Personality Disorder/psychology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Nicaragua , Projective Techniques , Psychometrics , Reference Values , SwedenABSTRACT
Centro de Atención Psicosocial in León, Nicaragua is a psychiatric outpatient unit that has developed a group-oriented model of working, in which 80% of all visits are in groups: first-admission groups, insight-oriented group psychotherapy, psycho-educative, family groups and relatives groups. The aim of the present study was to analyze patient characteristics and make a preliminary study of improvement, compliance and patient satisfaction in a 1-year perspective. One hundred consecutive visits were assessed, 44 of them first admissions. They were assessed according to all axes of DSM-III-R plus the Structural Clinical Interview for DSM-III Disorders. A 1-year follow up was conducted on 39 of 41 selected patients within the major diagnostic groups. One of 4 patients had a psychotic disorder where schizophrenia dominated. Among nonpsychotics major depression, anxiety and adjustment disorders were most frequent. Personality disorders were common (80%) among nonpsychotic patients, paranoid, obsessive-compulsive, passive-aggressive and masochistic personality disorders dominating. The illiteracy rate was 10%, but 50% had high school or university background. Severity of mental disorders and functional level did not differ between educational levels. There was a strong male dominance in all diagnostic, socioeconomic and educational level strata and few old patients. Improvement in functional level was clinically and statistically significant in all groups, and more than two thirds were very satisfied with the group treatment offered.
Subject(s)
Ambulatory Care/economics , Developing Countries , Mental Disorders/rehabilitation , Psychotherapy, Group/economics , Activities of Daily Living/psychology , Adolescent , Adult , Aged , Cost Savings , Female , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Mental Disorders/diagnosis , Mental Disorders/psychology , Middle Aged , Nicaragua , Patient Care Team/economics , Psychiatric Status Rating Scales , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Schizophrenia/rehabilitation , Schizophrenic Psychology , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
The Swedish Psychiatric Association, in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry, University of Umeå, Sweden, and the Pan American Health Organization/WHO, has obtained economic support from the Swedish Agency for International Development (ASDI), to organize training seminars for young psychiatrists from Central America. The program will continue until 1995 with an option to pursue further studies leading to a master or other post-graduate degrees. The overall purpose is to strengthen the knowledge in epidemiology and community mental health, along the lines set by the "Caracas Declaration" of a cadre of young leaders in the field of psychiatry in Central America.
Subject(s)
Community Psychiatry/education , Education, Medical, Graduate , International Educational Exchange , Adult , Central America , Female , Humans , Male , Sweden , World Health OrganizationABSTRACT
The Swedish Psychiatric Association, in collaboration with the Department of Psychiatry, University of UmeÕ, Sweden, and the Pan American Health Organization/WHO, has obtained economic support from the Swedish Agency for International Development (ASDI), to organize training seminars for young psychiatrists from Central America. The program will continue until 1995 with an option to pursue further studies leading to a master or other post-graduate degrees. The overall purpose is to strengthen the knowledge in epidemiology and community mental health, along the lines set by the [quot ]Caracas Declaration[quot ] of a cadre of young leaders in the field of psychiatry in Central America.
ABSTRACT
In recent years the family perspective in Psychiatry has become more important a factor. Therefore this paper is aimed at examining the family structure of mentally disordered people in León, Nicaragua, as well as presenting the use of a Genogram in epidemiological research. 201 families were randomly selected, whose members were interviewed in two steps: a screening, and a diagnostic stage. The family map or Genogram for each family was analyzed with respect to adult and child cases, generations within the family, and other background variables.
Subject(s)
Family Health , Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Adult , Child , Child, Preschool , Family Characteristics , Female , Humans , Interview, Psychological , Male , Nicaragua/epidemiology , Pedigree , Prevalence , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders in the Subtiava district of León, Nicaragua. Two-stage cluster sampling was used to select 219 families (n = 584 persons). The study was carried out in two phases. In the first, probable mental disorder cases were screened using the Self-Reporting Questionnaire. In the second, the diagnoses were confirmed through the Present State Examination questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the questionnaires had been confirmed in a pilot study. The present study was conducted in October and November 1987, when Nicaragua was still immersed in armed conflict. Construction of a family map made it possible to analyze, through the multiple imputation method, the characteristics of persons who were absent at the time of the interviews or who did not respond. The estimated prevalence percentages and their respective 95% confidence intervals were as follows: neurosis, 7.5% (5.2%-9.8%); depression, 6.2% (2.6%-8.1%); reactive crisis, 3.3% (2.6-6.5%); alcoholism, 5.8% (3.9%-8.9%); organic brain syndrome, 3.9% (1.7%-5.2%); psychosis, 0.5% (0.2%-1.6%); and other disorders, 0.7% (0.2%-1.6%). The estimated overall prevalence of mental disorders in the study population was 27.9%. Disorders were more prevalent among men (30.8%) than women (26.3%). It is concluded that these high estimated prevalences are associated with stress caused by the war.
Subject(s)
Mental Disorders/epidemiology , Adult , Female , Humans , Interview, Psychological , Male , Nicaragua/epidemiology , Occupations , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Self-Assessment , Sex Factors , Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/epidemiology , Surveys and Questionnaires , WarfareABSTRACT
In recent years the family perspective in Psychiatry has become more important a factor. Therefore this paper is aimed at examining the family structure of mentally disordered people in León, Nicaragua, as well as presenting the use of a Genogram in epidemiological research. 201 families were randomly selected, whose members were interviewed in two steps: a screening, and a diagnostic stage. The family map or Genogram for each family was analyzed with respect to adult and child cases, generations within the family, and other background variables.
ABSTRACT
In recent years the family perspective in Psychiatry has become more important a factor. Therefore this paper is aimed at examining the family structure of mentally disordered people in León, Nicaragua, as well as presenting the use of a Genogram in epidemiological research. 201 families were randomly selected, whose members were interviewed in two steps: a screening, and a diagnostic stage. The family map or Genogram for each family was analyzed with respect to adult and child cases, generations within the family, and other background variables.
ABSTRACT
Attitudes towards mentally ill people were studied in two Nicaraguan towns through interviews with key informants. They were presented 8 case histories originally developed in a World Health Organization collaborative study. Alcoholism and depressive neurosis were considered the most common disorders, while the schizophrenic case was generally judged as the most severe. The methodology was found useful and valid.