Delays in making initial treatment contact after the first onset of mental health disorders in the Argentinean Study of Mental Health Epidemiology.

AIMS: While there are effective treatments for psychiatric disorders, many individuals with such disorders do not receive treatment and those that do often take years to get into treatment. Information regarding treatment contact failure and delay in Argentina is needed to guide public health policy and planning. Therefore, this study aimed to provide data on prompt treatment contact, lifetime treatment contact, median duration of treatment delays and socio-demographic predictors of treatment contact after the first onset of a mental disorder. METHODS: The Argentinean Study of Mental Health Epidemiology (EAESM) is a multistage probability sample representative of adults (aged 18+) living in large urban areas of Argentina. A total of 2116 participants were evaluated with the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview to assess psychiatric diagnosis, treatment contact and delay. RESULTS: Projections of cases that will make treatment contact by 50 years taken from a survival curve suggest that the majority of individuals with a mood (100%) or anxiety disorder (72.5%) in Argentina whose disorder persist for a sufficient period of time eventually make treatment contact while fewer with a substance disorder do so (41.6%). Timely treatment in the year of onset is rare (2.6% for a substance disorder, 14.6% for an anxiety disorder and 31.3% of those with a mood disorder) with mean delays between 8 years for mood disorders and 21 years for anxiety disorders. Younger cohorts are more likely to make treatment contact than older cohorts, whereas those with earlier ages of disorder onset are least likely to make treatment contact. Those with anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder are more likely to make treatment contact when they have comorbid disorders, whereas those with substance use disorders are less likely. CONCLUSIONS: Argentina needs to implement strategies to get individuals with substance use disorders into treatment, and to reduce treatment delays for all, but particularly to target early detection and treatment among children and adolescents.

[Severe depression and risk factors in Buenos Aires]. / Depresión grave y factores de riesgo en Buenos Aires.

A study on prevalence of depression and its risk factors in 18 year old males with residence in the city of Buenos Aires was performed in 1991 during a mass medical examination of aptitude for the Military Service. An anonyme, self administered questionnaire was given to 553 youngsters in a probability sample. From findings in that study it was deemed necessary a deepen analysis on severe depression and its possible associations with ideas of suicide. Prevalence at severe depression was 4.5% and strong association was found with sadness in depression was 4.5% and strong association was found with sadness in childhood (RR 12.73), boredom (RR 10.56), retiring (RR 8.28) and nervousness (RR 3.89) as well as drugs abuse by brothers (RR 3.48) and family conflicts (RR 2.43). Possibility of having ideas of suicide is thirty three times more when depression exists. The attributable risk of suicide due to severe depression is 75%. Keeping in mind this health problem in youngsters might help to establish collective and individual strategic measures toward prevention.

Violencia y riesgos asociados en adolescentes / Violence and associated risks in adolescents

Introducción: El fenómeno de la violencia en los centros urbanos es entendido como un proceso social que comprende las más variadas formas de agresión que tiene un efecto multiplicador y expansivo que no solo afecta a las víctimas sino a la sociedad en pleno por lo cual su aumento es motivo de preocupación. Objetivo: Determinar las características de los adolescentes violentos y su asociación con antecedentes personales, familiares y del entorno en adolescentes relacionados al Consejo Nacional del Menor y la Familia en 1997 Material y Métodos: Se definió como adolescente violento aquel que participó en peleas (agresión física) en el ultimo año. Población: Fueron estudiados 522 adolescentes de ambos sexos y de 10 a 21 años de edad, asistidos en dependencias del Consejo Nacional del Menor y la Familia. Instrumento Utilizado: Dos fichas epidemiológicas, que incluyeron el Present State Examination, registrando el estado psíquico actual y los antecedentes personales, familiares y del entorno. Análisis Estadístico: Se estableció la frecuencia de adolescentes violentos y se analizaron las asociaciones posibles con ciertas variables, utilizando el Chi Cuadrado y el Riesgo Relativo. Resultados: El 21,3 por ciento de la población había tenido conductas violentas. En los varones se encontró una asociación significativa con el diagnóstico de trastornos de conductas disociales y el consumo de tabaco, marihuana, cocaína y sedantes. En las mujeres se asoció significativamente con los diagnósticos de depresión leve, distimia, trastorno de conducta desafiantes, antecedentes de acoso sexual y consumo de tabaco.Actuar tempranamente sobre los factores de riesgo genéricos detectados, es una forma de prevenir la violencia (AU)

Depresión grave y factores de riesgo en Buenos Aires. / [Severe depression and risk factors in Buenos Aires]

A study on prevalence of depression and its risk factors in 18 year old males with residence in the city of Buenos Aires was performed in 1991 during a mass medical examination of aptitude for the Military Service. An anonyme, self administered questionnaire was given to 553 youngsters in a probability sample. From findings in that study it was deemed necessary a deepen analysis on severe depression and its possible associations with ideas of suicide. Prevalence at severe depression was 4.5

and strong association was found with sadness in depression was 4.5

and strong association was found with sadness in childhood (RR 12.73), boredom (RR 10.56), retiring (RR 8.28) and nervousness (RR 3.89) as well as drugs abuse by brothers (RR 3.48) and family conflicts (RR 2.43). Possibility of having ideas of suicide is thirty three times more when depression exists. The attributable risk of suicide due to severe depression is 75

. Keeping in mind this health problem in youngsters might help to establish collective and individual strategic measures toward prevention.

Depression and risk factors in 18-year-old males in 5 districts of the Argentina Republic in 1992

Prevalence of depression and associated factors were investigated in 2,518, 18-year-old males, in probabilistic samples of residents in 5 areas of Argentina: city of Buenos Aires (Federal District), municipalities of the province of Buenos Aires in two areas, NE and SE; central and northern area of the province of Córdoba, and province of Mendoza. A self administered epidemiologic questionnaire was employed, including personal, familial and environmental history and 21 question from Beck's Depression Inventory. Depression was classified as mild, moderate and severe. Mild depression was more frequent in the five areas (14.8 per cent to 24 per cent), followed by moderate (7.4 per cent to 16.3 per cent) and severe (3.6 to 4.5 per cent). Association with other variables was analyzed by means of Relative Risk (RR) herewith reporting those with headaches, absences from home, conflicts sentimental and with friends, low credits at school, and use of marijuana. Moderate depression was associated with headaches, absences from home, history on aggressive, nervous and sad mood in childhood, previous depression, and use of marijuana. Severe depression was associated with headaches, absences from home, history on aggressive, nervous and sad mood in childhood, previous depression, and use of marijuana. Prevalence of depression found was similar in all areas. It's necessary to continue studying depression in adolescence.

Violencia y riesgos asociados en adolescentes / Violence and associated risks in adolescents

Introducción: El fenómeno de la violencia en los centros urbanos es entendido como un proceso social que comprende las más variadas formas de agresión que tiene un efecto multiplicador y expansivo que no solo afecta a las víctimas sino a la sociedad en pleno por lo cual su aumento es motivo de preocupación. Objetivo: Determinar las características de los adolescentes violentos y su asociación con antecedentes personales, familiares y del entorno en adolescentes relacionados al Consejo Nacional del Menor y la Familia en 1997 Material y Métodos: Se definió como adolescente violento aquel que participó en peleas (agresión física) en el ultimo año. Población: Fueron estudiados 522 adolescentes de ambos sexos y de 10 a 21 años de edad, asistidos en dependencias del Consejo Nacional del Menor y la Familia. Instrumento Utilizado: Dos fichas epidemiológicas, que incluyeron el Present State Examination, registrando el estado psíquico actual y los antecedentes personales, familiares y del entorno. Análisis Estadístico: Se estableció la frecuencia de adolescentes violentos y se analizaron las asociaciones posibles con ciertas variables, utilizando el Chi Cuadrado y el Riesgo Relativo. Resultados: El 21,3 por ciento de la población había tenido conductas violentas. En los varones se encontró una asociación significativa con el diagnóstico de trastornos de conductas disociales y el consumo de tabaco, marihuana, cocaína y sedantes. En las mujeres se asoció significativamente con los diagnósticos de depresión leve, distimia, trastorno de conducta desafiantes, antecedentes de acoso sexual y consumo de tabaco.Actuar tempranamente sobre los factores de riesgo genéricos detectados, es una forma de prevenir la violencia