"If I get sick here, I will never see my children again": The mental health of international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile.

BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on the mental health of international migrants globally. Chile has managed its response to the pandemic in an ongoing context of social unrest and combined regional migratory and humanitarian crisis. The country's population presents a high prevalence of common mental disorders and a high suicide rate, with limited access to mental healthcare. International migrants in Chile represent 8% of the total population, and although a socioeconomically heterogenous group, they face social vulnerability, a range of mental health stressors and additional barriers to access mental healthcare. This study describes the mental health outcomes, stressors, response, and coping strategies perceived by international migrants during the COVID-19 pandemic in Chile. METHODS AND FINDINGS: A qualitative case study was carried out through individual online interviews to 30 international migrants living in Chile during the pandemic and 10 experts of the social and health care sectors. An inductive content analysis was carried out, a process during which the researchers sought to identify patterns and themes derived from the data. Participants experienced mainly negative mental health outcomes, including anxiety and depression symptomatology. Stressors included the virus itself, work, living and socioeconomic conditions, discrimination, fear for their family and distance caring. Institutional responses to address the mental health of international migrants during the pandemic in Chile were limited and participants relied mainly on individual coping strategies. CONCLUSIONS: The pandemic can represent an important opportunity to strengthen mental health systems for the general population as well as for population groups experiencing social vulnerability, if the issues identified and the lessons learned are translated into action at national, regional, and international level. Promoting the mental health of international migrants means recognising migration as a social determinant of mental health and adopting a cross-cultural as well as a Human Rights approach.

Antidepressant use among immigrants with depressive disorder living in Finland: A register-based study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to examine differences in the initiation and discontinuation of antidepressants between immigrants and the Finnish-born population diagnosed with depression in specialized health care. METHODS: The study utilized register-based data, which includes all immigrants living in Finland at the end of 2010 and matched Finnish-born controls. For this study, we selected individuals who had received a diagnosis of depression during 2011-2014 (immigrants n = 2244, Finnish-born n = 2773). Their antidepressant use was studied for a one-year period from initiation. A logistic regression was used to predict initiation and a Cox regression was used to predict discontinuation. RESULTS: Immigrants were more likely to initiate the use of antidepressants than the Finnish-born controls (adjusted OR = 1.25, 95% CI = 1.07-1.46), but they also discontinued the medication earlier than the Finnish-born controls (adjusted HR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.31-1.68). Immigrants from Sub Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Northern Africa were most likely to discontinue antidepressants earlier. More severe depression, a longer length of residence in Finland and more intensive psychiatric treatment were associated with decreased risk of discontinuation. LIMITATIONS: The registers do not provide information on the perceived reasons for the discontinuation. CONCLUSIONS: Immigrants with depression initiate antidepressants more often than the Finnish-born population, but they also discontinue them earlier. Early discontinuation may be a sign of insufficient treatment suggesting that there could be a need for improvement in mental health care for immigrants in Finland.

Psychometric Evaluation of the Health State Description Questionnaire in Chile: A Proposal for a Latent Variable Approach for Valuating Health States.

BACKGROUND: A few instruments that identify and valuate health states are based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health States of the World Health Organization. One of them is the Health State Description (HSD) questionnaire first used in the World Health Survey (WHS) initiative (HSD-WHS), whose psychometric properties have not been evaluated in Chile. Additionally, the use of latent variables for the valuation process of health states has been scarcely investigated in the context of population health metrics. We aim to evaluate the psychometric properties and factorial structure of the HSD-WHS for Chile and describe a latent variable method for valuating health states associated with diseases. METHODS: We used data from the second Chilean National Health population-based survey from 2009 to 2010 (N = 5293). We explored the factorial structure of the HSD-WHS through exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, the reliability, and the discriminant validity of the latent variable of disability. Disability weights for diseases were calculated using a linear regression model. RESULTS: We found an adequate goodness of fit for a second-order model with 9 factors corresponding to disability domains (Tucker-Lewis index = 0.99, comparative fit index = 0.99, root mean square error of approximation = 0.060), and good reliability estimates (standardized α = 0.91). The rescaled (between 0 and 100) latent variable of disability showed significant difference according to the explored variables. We estimated disability weights for the following: (1) depressive episode, 13.6 (12.1-15.2), (2) hypertension, 1.6 (0.0-3.3), and (3) diabetes, 5.0 (2.5-7.4). CONCLUSIONS: This study supports the use of the HSD-WHS questionnaire in the Chilean population and a latent variable approach for valuating health states associated with diseases.

Different Alternatives to Assess the Burden of Disease Using Attributable Fraction on a Disability Variable: The Case of Pain and Chronic Musculoskeletal Disorders in Chile.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the burden of disease through 4 complementary procedures to years lived with disability (YLDs) using the concept of attributable fraction and including analysis of subdomains of disability. METHODS: We explored the burden on disability for 7 common musculoskeletal disorders (CMD) using the 2009 to 2010 Chilean National Health Survey, which included the Community Oriented Programme for the Control of Rheumatic Disease Core Questionnaire to identify cases with CMD, and an 8-domain questionnaire for health state descriptions. We calculated the proportion of disability attributable to pain in the general population and people with CMD. We also estimated the burden of CMD expressed as YLD and as the proportion of the disability in the general population attributable to people with CMD, with a particular focus in the pain domain of disability. Second order of uncertainty around point estimations was also characterized. RESULTS: Pain domain of disability accounted for 23.4% of the total disability in the general population, and between 20% (fibromyalgia) to 27.1% (osteoarthritis of the hip) in people with some of the selected CMD. People with chronic musculoskeletal pain accounted for 21.2% of total disability from general population, which generated 1.2 million of YLD (6679 YLD/100 000 inhabitants). Chronic low back pain and osteoarthritis of the knee were in the top position of specific CMDs, explaining the highest national burden. CONCLUSION: Pain is an essential component of disability in people with CMD and also in the general population. The approach used can be easily applied to other health conditions and other domains of disability.

Inequities in mental health and mental healthcare between international immigrants and locals in Chile: a narrative review.

Mental health in a context of international migration is a particularly pressing issue, as migration is recognised as a social determinant of physical and mental health. As Chile is increasingly becoming a receiving country of South-South migration, immigrants face mental health inequities, with regards to outcomes and access to care.In order to identify and synthetize mental healthcare inequities faced by international migrants with regards to locals in Chile, a narrative review of the literature on national mental healthcare policies in Chile and a narrative review of the literature on migrants' mental healthcare in Chile were conducted, with a focus on describing mental health outcomes, policy environment and persisting gaps and barriers for both topics. The existing literature on mental healthcare in Chile, both for the general population and for international migrants, following the social determinant of health framework and categorised in terms of i) Inequities in mental health outcomes; ii) Description of the mental health policy environment and iii) Identification of the main barriers to access mental healthcare.Despite incremental policy efforts to improve the reach of mental healthcare in Chile, persisting inequities are identified for both locals and international migrants: lack of funding and low prioritisation, exacerbation of social vulnerability in the context of a mixed health insurance system, and inadequacy of mental healthcare services. International migrants may experience specific layers of vulnerability linked to migration as a social determinant of health, nested in a system that exacerbates social vulnerability.Based on the findings, the article discusses how mental health is a privilege for migrant populations as well as locals experiencing layers of social vulnerability in the Chilean context. International migrants' access to comprehensive and culturally relevant mental healthcare in Chile and other countries is an urgent need in order to contribute to reducing social vulnerability and fostering mechanisms of social inclusion.International migration, social determinants of mental health, mental health inequities, social vulnerability, review.

Purchases of psychotropic drugs among the migrant population in Finland: a nationwide register-based cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Migrant populations may have different mental health service needs when compared with native populations. One indicator of service use is the use of psychotropic medication. The aim of this study was to compare the purchases of psychotropic drugs among different migrant populations with the native population in Finland. METHODS: Foreign-born participants (n = 184 805) and their Finnish-born controls (n = 185 183) were identified from the Finnish Central Population Register. Information on their purchases of psychotropic drugs in 2011-15 was collected from the National Prescription Register. A washout period of 2009-10 was used to define incident purchases. Cox regression analysis was the statistical method used. RESULTS: At least one incident purchase of a psychotropic drug was identified for 11.1% of migrant women, 11.4% of Finnish-born women, 8.7% of migrant men and 9.8% of Finnish-born men. When controlled for age, sex, marital status, socioeconomic status and social assistance, migrants were less likely to purchase psychotropic drugs (adjusted hazard ratio 0.96, 95% confidence interval 0.93-0.98), but there was variation between different drug categories. Recent migrants and migrants from Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa were least likely to purchase drugs. Migrants from Nordic countries and other Western countries most closely resembled the Finnish-born controls. CONCLUSIONS: Recent migrants in Finland appear to use fewer psychotropic drugs than native Finns. It is important to analyze the reasons for this pattern, as they may indicate delays in access to care or benefits. The heterogeneity of migrant populations must also be considered when developing services to better address their needs.

Exposure to common infections and risk of suicide and self-harm: a longitudinal general population study.

Common infectious agents, such as Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) and several human herpes viruses, have been linked to increased risk of self-harm. The aim of this study was to investigate the associations between self-harm and seropositivity to T. gondii, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Herpes Simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1), and Cytomegalovirus (CMV). IgM and IgG antibodies to these infections were measured in the Health 2000 project nationally representative of the whole Finnish adult population, and 6250 participants, age 30 and over, were followed for 15 years via registers. In addition, lifetime suicidal ideation and suicide attempts based on medical records and interview were assessed within a subsample of 694 participants screened to a substudy for possible psychotic symptoms or as controls. Among the 6250 participants, 14 individuals died of suicide and an additional 4 individuals had a diagnosis of intentional self-harm during follow-up. Serological evidence of lifetime or acute infections was not found to be associated with these suicidal outcomes. However, in the subsample, those seropositive for CMV had fewer suicide attempts compared to those seronegative, adjusting for gender, age, educational level, childhood family size, regional residence, CRP, and screen status (OR for multiple attempts = 0.40, 95% confidence interval 0.20‒0.83, p = 0.014). To conclude, common infections were not associated with risk of death by suicide or with self-harm diagnoses at a 15-year follow-up in the general population sample. Our finding of an increased number of suicide attempts among persons seronegative for CMV calls for further research.

Immigrants' mental health service use compared to that of native Finns: a register study.

PURPOSE: Many aspects related to migration might predispose immigrants to mental health problems. Yet immigrants have been shown to underuse mental health services. The aim of this study was to compare the intensity of psychiatric care, as an indicator of treatment adequacy, between natives and immigrants living in Finland. METHODS: We used nationwide register data that included all the immigrants living in Finland at the end of 2010 (n = 185,605) and their matched controls. Only those who had used mental health services were included in the analyses (n = 14,285). We used multinomial logistic regression to predict the categorized treatment intensity by immigrant status, region and country of origin, length of residence, and other background variables. RESULTS: Immigrants used mental health services less than Finnish controls and with lower intensity. The length of residence in Finland increased the probability of higher treatment intensity. Immigrants from Eastern Europe, sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, and Northern Africa were at the highest risk of receiving low-intensity treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Some immigrant groups seem to persistently receive less psychiatric treatment than Finnish-born controls. Identification of these groups is important and future research is needed to determine the mechanisms behind these patterns.

Association of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii, Epstein-Barr Virus, Herpes Simplex virus Type 1 and Cytomegalovirus with new-onset depressive and anxiety disorders: An 11-year follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Some prevalent infections have been associated with common mental disorders, but there are few longitudinal studies, and results are inconsistent. We aimed to assess whether serological evidence of exposure to Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV), Herpes Simplex virus Type 1 (HSV-1) and Cytomegalovirus (CMV) predict development of new-onset depressive and anxiety disorders. METHODS: In a nationally representative sample of the Finnish adult population aged 30 and over (BRIF8901, n = 8028), IgG antibodies for T. gondii, EBV, HSV-1 and CMV were measured in plasma samples. The population was followed up for 11 years and new-onset depressive and anxiety disorders were diagnosed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Associations were analysed controlling for sex, age, educational level, region of residence and marital status, and in separate analyses also for C-reactive protein level. RESULTS: Seropositivity and serointensity of the four infectious agents were not associated with an increased risk of new-onset depressive or anxiety disorders. Seropositivity for CMV at baseline was associated with a lower risk of new-onset generalized anxiety disorder (adjusted OR 0.43, 95% CI 0.22-0.86 for CMV positive persons). CONCLUSION: The results of this large, nationally representative longitudinal study suggest that common viral infections are not significant risk factors for common mental disorders. The association of CMV with a lower risk of generalized anxiety disorder warrants further investigation.

Changes in prevalence and correlates of alcohol-use disorders in Finland in an 11-year follow-up.

AIMS: This study aimed to examine changes in prevalence and correlates of alcohol-use disorders (AUD) between 2000 and 2011. We also explored the impact of using multiple imputation on prevalence estimates, to address survey nonresponse. METHODS: The study used a Finnish nationally representative survey of adults aged 30 years and older in 2000 and in 2011. The Munich Composite International Diagnostic Interview (M-CIDI) was used to diagnose AUD in 6005 persons in 2000 (response rate 75%) and 4381 in 2011 (response rate 55%). Multiple imputation using sociodemographic, health, and registry-linked data on mental health hospitalizations was compared with weights to account for nonresponse. RESULTS: Prevalence of 12-month AUD in Finland decreased from 4.6% (95% CI 4.0-5.1) in 2000 to 2.0% in 2011 (95% CI 1.6-2.4). Lifetime AUD prevalence decreased from 10.8% (95% CI 9.9-11.6) to 7.5% (CI 95% 6.8-8.3) from 2000 to 2011. The reduction was observed for people aged 30-64 years. At both time points, AUD prevalence was higher among individuals aged 30-64, men and those unmarried, widowed or divorced. The observed prevalence changes can be partly attributed to reporting and selection bias. The latter was addressed by multiple imputation. CONCLUSIONS: Alcohol use disorders appear to have decreased in Finland from 2000 to 2011, especially for the 30-64 years age group. Males, younger adults and those unmarried, widowed or divorced had a higher risk of AUD.

Use of health services among international migrant children - a systematic review.

BACKGROUND: Migrant children have specific health needs, and may face difficulties in accessing health care, but not enough is known about their health service use. This study aims to describe patterns of use of health services of international migrant children and differences to respective native populations. METHODS: Electronic databases PubMed and Web of Science, references of identified publications, and websites of relevant international agencies were searched. We included observational studies published between 2006 and 2016 that reported use of formal health services by migrant children (0-18 years), including first and second generation migrants. Data on study characteristics, study theme, main outcome and study quality were extracted. RESULTS: One hundred seven full texts were included in the review. Of the studies that reported comparable outcomes, half (50%) indicated less use of healthcare by migrants compared with non-migrants; 25% reported no difference, 18% reported greater use, and 7% did not report this outcome. There was variation by theme, so that the proportion of conclusions "less use" was most common in the categories "general access to care", "primary care" and "oral health", whereas in the use of emergency rooms or hospitalisations, the most common conclusion was "greater use". CONCLUSIONS: Migrant children appear to use different types of healthcare services less than native populations, with the exception of emergency and hospital services. SYSTEMATIC REVIEW REGISTRATION: PROSPERO systematic review registration number: CRD42016039876 .

The Impact of Universal Health Care Programmes on Improving 'Realized Access' to Care for Depression in Chile.

Universal health care programmes have the potential to reduce treatment gaps. We explored the potential impact of an equity-oriented universal health care programme on access to care for depression, hypertension and diabetes using data from two nationally representative health surveys in Chile. The likelihood a depressed individual had accessed health care appears to have increased significantly after the programme was introduced whereas those for hypertension and diabetes remained unchanged. Depressed women seem to have benefited mostly from the programme. Universal health care programmes for depression could substantially increase coverage and reduce inequities in access to health care in middle-income countries.

Determinants of access to health care for depression in 49 countries: A multilevel analysis.

BACKGROUND: The relative importance of individual and country-level factors influencing access to diagnosis and treatment for depression across the world is fairly unknown. METHODS: We analysed cross-national data from the WHO World Health Surveys. Depression diagnosis and access to health care were ascertained using a structured interview. Logistic Bayesian Multilevel analyses were performed to establish individual and country level factors associated with: (1) receiving a diagnosis and (2) accessing treatment for depression if a diagnosis was ascertained. RESULTS: The sample included 7870 individuals from 49 countries who met ICD-10 criteria for depressive episode in the past 12 months. A third (32%) of these individuals had ever been diagnosed with depression in their lifetime. Among those diagnosed with depression, 66% reported to have ever received treatment for depression. Although individual factors were more important determinants of access to treatment for depression, country-level factors explained 27.6% of the variance in access to diagnosis and 24.1% in access to treatment. Access to treatment for depression improved with increasing country income. Female gender, better education, the presence of physical co-morbidity, more material assets, and living in urban areas were individual level determinants of better access. LIMITATIONS: Data on other contextual factors was not available. Unmet need was likely underestimated, since only lifetime treatment data was available. CONCLUSION: This study highlights major inequalities in access to a diagnosis and treatment of depression. Unlike the prevalence of depression, where contextual factors have shown to have less importance, a significant proportion of the variance in access to depression care was explained by country-level income.

Mortality in people with psychotic disorders in Finland: A population-based 13-year follow-up study.

OBJECTIVES: We conducted a population based study aiming at finding predictors of mortality in psychotic disorders and evaluating the extent to which sociodemographic, lifestyle and health-related factors explain the excess mortality. METHODS: In a nationally representative sample of Finns aged 30-70years (n=5642), psychotic disorders were diagnosed using structured interviews and medical records in 2000-2001. Information on mortality and causes of death was obtained of those who died by the end of year 2013. Cox proportional hazards models were used to investigate the mortality risk. RESULTS: No people with affective psychoses (n=36) died during the follow-up, thus the analysis was restricted to non-affective psychotic disorders (NAP) (n=106). Adjusting for age and sex, NAP was statistically significantly associated with all-cause mortality (hazard ratio (HR) 2.99, 95% CI 2.03-4.41) and natural-cause mortality (HR 2.81, 95% CI 1.85-4.28). After adjusting for sociodemographic factors, health status, inflammation and smoking, the HR dropped to 2.11 (95% CI 1.10-4.05) for all-cause and to 1.98 (95% CI 0.94-4.16) for natural-cause mortality. Within the NAP group, antipsychotic use at baseline was associated with reduced HR for natural-cause mortality (HR 0.25, 95% CI 0.07-0.96), and smoking with increased HR (HR 3.54, 95% CI 1.07-11.69). CONCLUSIONS: The elevated mortality risk in people with NAP is only partly explained by socioeconomic factors, lifestyle, cardio-metabolic comorbidities and inflammation. Smoking cessation should be prioritized in treatment of psychotic disorders. More research is needed on the quality of treatment of somatic diseases in people with psychotic disorders.

Primary care consultation liaison and the rate of psychiatric hospitalizations: a countrywide study in Chile.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the quality of consultation liaison across all primary health care centers in Chile, and its potential relationship with the psychiatric hospitalization rate. METHODS: We carried out a countrywide ecological cross-sectional study on 502 primary health centers in 275 municipalities (87.3% of total primary health centers in Chile) during 2009. We characterized the presence of consultation liaison using four criteria: availability, frequency, continuity of participants, and continuity across care levels. We also created a dichotomous variable called "optimal consultation liaison" for when all four criteria were met. A quasi-Poisson regression model was used to estimate the rate of hospitalization due to different psychiatric disorders, adjusting by population attributes. RESULTS: Of the primary health centers, 28.3% of them had had optimal consultation liaison during the preceding year, concentrated in the poorest and richest municipalities. Continuity of care was the criterion that was met least often (38.3%). The presence of optimal consultation liaison at the municipal level was associated with fewer psychiatric discharges, with the following incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs): schizophrenia, 0.65 (95% CI: 0.49-0.85); other psychoses, 0.68 (95% CI: 0.52-0.89); and personality disorders, 0.66 (95% CI: 0. 49-0.89). Municipalities with optimal consultation liaison showed 2.44 fewer total psychiatric discharges per 10 000 inhabitants, although without reaching statistical significance (-0.85 to 5.70). CONCLUSIONS: Using a nationally representative sample, we found that consultation liaison in primary care was associated with having fewer psychiatric hospitalizations. More studies are required to understand the role of each component of consultation liaison.

Primary care consultation liaison and the rate of psychiatric hospitalizations: a countrywide study in Chile / Las consultorías de salud mental en atención primaria y la tasa de hospitalización psiquiátrica: estudio nacional en Chile / Consultoria em saúde mental na atenção primária e taxa de internação psiquiátrica: estudo nacional no Chile

ABSTRACT Objectives To assess the quality of consultation liaison across all primary health care centers in Chile, and its potential relationship with the psychiatric hospitalization rate. Methods We carried out a countrywide ecological cross-sectional study on 502 primary health centers in 275 municipalities (87.3% of total primary health centers in Chile) during 2009. We characterized the presence of consultation liaison using four criteria: availability, frequency, continuity of participants, and continuity across care levels. We also created a dichotomous variable called "optimal consultation liaison" for when all four criteria were met. A quasi-Poisson regression model was used to estimate the rate of hospitalization due to different psychiatric disorders, adjusting by population attributes. Results Of the primary health centers, 28.3% of them had had optimal consultation liaison during the preceding year, concentrated in the poorest and richest municipalities. Continuity of care was the criterion that was met least often (38.3%). The presence of optimal consultation liaison at the municipal level was associated with fewer psychiatric discharges, with the following incidence rate ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs): schizophrenia, 0.65 (95% CI: 0.49-0.85); other psychoses, 0.68 (95% CI: 0.52-0.89); and personality disorders, 0.66 (95% CI: 0. 49-0.89). Municipalities with optimal consultation liaison showed 2.44 fewer total psychiatric discharges per 10 000 inhabitants, although without reaching statistical significance (-0.85 to 5.70). Conclusions Using a nationally representative sample, we found that consultation liaison in primary care was associated with having fewer psychiatric hospitalizations. More studies are required to understand the role of each component of consultation liaison.

RESUMEN Objetivos Evaluar la calidad de las consultorías de salud mental en todos los centros de atención primaria de salud en Chile y su posible relación con la tasa de hospitalización psiquiátrica. Métodos Se llevó a cabo un estudio transversal ecológico a nivel nacional sobre los 502 centros de atención primaria de salud en 275 municipios (87,3 % del total de los centros de atención primaria de salud en Chile) durante el 2009. Las consultorías de salud mental se caracterizaron por medio de cuatro criterios: disponibilidad, frecuencia, continuidad de los participantes y continuidad en los distintos niveles de atención. Además, se creó una variable dicótoma llamada "consultoría óptima" para cuando se cumplían los cuatro criterios. Se utilizó un cuasimodelo de regresión de Poisson para calcular la tasa de hospitalización a causa de distintos trastornos psiquiátricos, ajustada por los atributos de la población. Resultados De los centros de atención primaria de salud, el 28,3 % había presentado consultorías óptimas durante el año anterior, concentradas en los municipios más pobres y más ricos. La continuidad de la atención fue el criterio que se cumplió con menos frecuencia (38,3 %). La presencia de consultorías óptimas a nivel municipal estuvo asociada con menos altas médicas psiquiátricas, con la siguiente razón de tasa de incidencia e intervalos de confianza (IC) del 95 %: esquizofrenia, 0,65 (IC del 95%: 0,49-0,85); otras psicosis, 0,68 (IC del 95%: 0,52-0,89); y trastornos de la personalidad, 0,66 (IC del 95%: 0,49-0,89). Los municipios con consultorías óptimas registraron 2,44 menos altas médicas psiquiátricas totales por 10 000 habitantes, aunque sin alcanzar significación estadística (-0,85 a 5,70). Conclusiones Por medio de una muestra representativa a nivel nacional, encontramos que las consultorías de salud mental en centros de atención primaria de salud estaban asociadas con la disminución de hospitalizaciones psiquiátricas. Se requieren más estudios para comprender la función de cada componente de las consultorías de salud mental.

RESUMO Objetivos Avaliar a qualidade da consultoria em saúde mental nos centros de atenção primária à saúde e possível relação com a taxa de internação psiquiátrica. Métodos Um estudo de delineamento transversal ecológico foi conduzido em nível nacional em 502 centros de atenção primária à saúde (87,3% do número total no país) em 275 municípios no Chile em 2009. A prática de consultoria em saúde mental foi caracterizada de acordo com quatro critérios: disponibilidade, frequência, continuidade dos participantes e continuidade nos níveis de atenção. Também foi criada uma variável dicotômica, denominada "consultoria ideal", quando os quatro critérios eram satisfeitos. Foi usado um modelo de regressão de quase-Poisson para estimar a taxa de internação por diferentes transtornos psiquiátricos, ajustada segundo as características da população. Resultados Ao todo, 28,3% dos centros de atenção primária à saúde tiveram uma prática de consultoria ideal no ano anterior, concentrada nos municípios pertencentes aos quartis mais pobre e mais rico. A continuidade da atenção foi o critério satisfeito com menor frequência (38,3%). A prática de consultoria ideal ao nível de município foi associada a um número menor de altas psiquiátricas, com as seguintes razões de taxas de incidência e intervalos de confiança de 95% (IC 95%): 0,65 para esquizofrenia (IC 95% 0.49-0.85); 0,68 para outras psicoses (IC 95% 0.52-0.89) e 0,66 para transtornos de personalidade (IC 95% 0.49-0.89). Os municípios com prática de consultoria ideal tiveram 2,44 menos altas psiquiátricas por 10 mil habitantes, embora não seja estatisticamente significativo (-0.85 a 5,70). Conclusões O estudo de uma amostra representativa da população nacional revelou que a consultoria em saúde mental na atenção primária esteve associada a um número menor de internações psiquiátricas. Outros estudos são necessários para entender o papel de cada componente da consultoria em saúde mental.

Prevalence, risk factors and prognosis of depressive disorders.

In Finland, one out of ten adults had a depressive disorder on 2011, and compared to year 2000, the prevalence increased especially in women. Risk factors for recurrent depressive episodes included female gender, young age, childhood adversities, and prior mild depressive symptoms. During follow-up, 75% of patients recovered, and the risk for prolonged depression was increased in those living alone or with severe symptoms. Depressive disorders are associated with a two-fold risk of death, which can only partly be explained by physical illness and negative health behavior.

Brechas de desigualdad en salud en niños migrantes versus locales en Chile / Health inequality gap in inmigrant versus local children in Chile

Resumen Introducción: Los niños y jóvenes migrantes internacionales enfrentan diferentes retos en salud en comparación con la población local, en particular si se enfrentan a ambientes inseguros o a condi ciones sociales adversas. Este estudio busca identificar brechas existentes en resultados de salud de la niñez entre población migrante internacional y chilena. Métodos: Este estudio analiza tres fuentes de información: (i)Nacer en Chile: Datos de consulta antenatal recolectados de los registros electrónicos de las mujeres usuarias del programa Chile Crece Contigo, de todos los centros de salud familiar (CESFAM) de administración municipal de la comuna de Recoleta el año 2012; (ii)Crecer en Chile: Datos de encuesta poblacional "Caracterización Socioeconómica Nacional" CASEN 2013 y (iii)En-fermar en Chile: Datos de todos los egresos hospitalarios de 2012, proporcionada por el departamento de estadística e información en salud (DEIS) del Ministerio de Salud. Resultados: (i) Nacer en Chile: Hay mayor proporción de inmigrantes con riesgo biopsicosocial (62,3% vs 50,1% en chilenas) y con ingreso tardío al programa (63,1% vs 33,4%). Hay menos cesáreas en inmigrantes que en chilenas (24,2% vs 33,6%). (ii) Crecer en Chile: Existe una mayor proporción de niños migrantes fuera del sistema escolar y una mayor proporción en pobreza multidimensional (40% vs 23,2%). (iii) Enfermar en Chile: En migrantes entre 7-14 años es más frecuente egresar hospitalariamente por traumatismos/ otras causas externas (23,6% vs 16,7% en chilenos). Conclusiones: Este estudio entrega nueva evi dencia sobre necesidades urgentes de salud de nuestros niños en Chile. Este es un imperativo ético, legal y moral, independiente de la condición migratoria.

Abstract Introduction: Children and young international migrants face different health challenges compa red with the local population, particularly if they live in insecure environments or adverse social conditions. This study seeks to identify gaps in health outcomes of children between immigrant and local population in Chile. Methods: This study analyses data from three sources: (i) Born in Chile: Electronic records of antenatal visits from all municipal antenatal clinics of Recoleta in 2012; (ii) Growing up in Chile: Population survey "National Socioeconomic Characterization" (CASEN) from 2013 and (iii) Getting sick in Chile: Data of all hospital discharges in 2012, provided by the department of statistics and health information (DEIS) of the Ministry of Health. Results: (I) Born in Chile: Im migrants more frequently have psychosocial risk (62.3% vs 50.1% in Chileans) and enter later into the program (63.1% vs 33.4% enter later than 14 weeks of pregnancy). All birth outcomes were better among immigrants (e.g. caesarean sections rates: 24.2% immigrants vs % Chileans). (ii) Growing up in Chile: A higher proportion of migrant children is outside the school system and lives in multidi mensional poverty (40% immigrants vs 23.2% Chileans). (iii) Getting sick in Chile: Injuries and other external causes were more frequent cause of hospitalisation among migrants (23.6%) than the local population (16.7%) aged between 7 and 14 years. Conclusions: Addressing the needs of the children in Chile, regardless of their immigration status, is an ethical, legal and moral imperative.

Priority setting for mental health research in Chile.

BACKGROUND: Scientific knowledge is a fundamental tool for making informed health policy decisions, but the link between health research and public policy decision-making is often missing. This study aims to identify and prioritize a national set of research gaps in mental health. METHODS: A multi-approach method to identify gaps in knowledge was developed, including (1) document analysis and identification of possible research questions, (2) interviews to Ministry of Health key informants, (3) focus groups with different stakeholders, and (4) a web consultation addressed to academics. The identified gaps were translated to a standardized format of research questions. Criteria for prioritization were extracted from interviews and focus groups. Then, a team of various professionals applied them for scoring each question research. FINDINGS: Fifty-four people participated in the knowledge gaps identification process through an online consultation (n = 23) and focus groups (n = 18). Prioritization criteria identified were: extent of the knowledge gap, size of the objective population, potential benefit, vulnerability, urgency and applicability. 155 research questions were prioritized, of which 44% were related to evaluation of systems and/or health programs, and 26% to evaluation of interventions, including questions related to cost-effectiveness. 30% of the research questions came from the online consultation, and 36% from key informants. Users groups contributed with 10% of total research questions. CONCLUSION: A final priority setting for mental health research was reached, making available for authorities and research agencies a list of 155 research questions ordered by relevance. The experience documented here could serve to other countries interested in developing a similar process.