The frequency of major psychiatric disorder in Chinese inpatients

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: A Review of the Cross-Cultural Epidemiological Literature

Early clinical studies suggested that obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was a rare disorder, but recent large-scale epidemiological research conducted in North America using standardized diagnostic criteria (DSM-III) report prevalence rates between 1 to 3%. A review of clinical and case reports of OCD among psychiatric population in non-Western countries reveals similar sociodemographic and clinical correlates for the disorder compared to Western findings. Epidemiological studies using translated versions of standardized diagnostic instruments and conducted in non-Western countries, report similar prevalence rates and clinical phenomenology for O CD as that found in Western settings. Methodological and measurement issues relevant to conducting valid cross- cultural psychiatric research are discussed in relationship to the diagnosis of OCD. The review concludes that OCD is generally similar in prevalence, sociodemographic characteristics and clinical features in both Western and non-Western countries for adult populations.

Psychiatric diagnostic profiles in hospitalized adolescent and adult Navajo Indians

Diagnostic profiles of 400 adolescent and 1159 adult Navajo Indians consecutively admitted to a psychiatric unit between 1980 and 1989 are presented in this paper. The major discharge diagnoses for adolescents were as follows: adjustment reaction, mixed, and depression, not otherwise specified (NOS), with females accounting for two-thirds of either diagnosis; schizophrenia, with males accounting for 68% of all diagnoses, and personality disorder, NOS, with no gender differences. The four major discharge diagnoses for adults were schizophrenia and depression, NOS, in which there were no gender differences; alcohol withdrawal, syndrome, in which males accounted for 76% of those discharged; and adjustment reaction, mixed, in which females constituted 60% of those discharged. Over the 10-year period, there was a decrease in adult and an increase in adolescent admissions. During the last 2 years (1988 and 1989) adolescents accounted for almost 30% of all admissions compared with 14% during the first 2 years (1981 and 1982).

The first lithium clinic in Hong Kong: a Chinese profile

A study of 50 Chinese patients referred to the first lithium clinic in Hong Kong revealed a high prevalence of recurrent mania and rarely unipolar depression. A history of delusions and hallucinations, and re-diagnosis from schizophrenia to manic depressive psychosis, were common. Lithium was prescribed after 3.9 episodes of illness, and at a dosage of 1,191 mg despite a moderate serum level of 0.63 mmol/l. Laboratory monitoring was haphazard, and polypharmacy was common. This might pose unnecessary risks to some patients.

DSM-III in Ethiopia: a feasibility study

A feasibility study of DSM-III on 40 Ethiopian visitors to a psychiatric outpatient clinic in Addis Ababa was carried out by a Dutch psychiatrist, with three of his Dutch colleagues. In spite of the highly idiosyncratic way in which Ethiopians present their complaints, the diagnostic criteria of DSM-III appeared to be useful to a certain extent. The outcome of an inter-rater reliability study was comparable with that of an American one. The results were congruent for the classes that are rather well-defined in the DSM-III, like the psychotic and affective disorders. This did not apply to the classes of the somatoform and factitious disorders. Possible reasons for this are discussed.

Psychiatry in the People's Republic of China

In the spring of 1985, a party of psychiatrists from Great Britain and Ireland visited four major Chinese cities--Beijing (Peking), Shanghai, Nanjing (Nanking) and Guangzhou (Canton), as a study tour of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, under the auspices of the Chinese Medical Association. A number of psychiatric hospitals were visited and there was opportunity for many discussions with psychiatrists and other professional staff. This paper records some impressions of the psychiatric services and practices that were observed, together with material obtained in discussions. It is hoped that it will update and complement previous reports by Western visitors to China, and thus increase understanding of mental health in China.