Week 3 Epidemiology of Mental Illness and Comorbidities

Question 1

Definition of Epidemiology

CDC, 2012

Answer 1

The study of the distribution and determinatns of health-related states or events in specified populations and the application of this study to the control of health problems

Question 2

Identify the meaning of the determinants?

A. The study of disease and its global impact
B. The cause and other factors influence the occurrence of disease
C. Number of existing cases
D. Number of new cases

Answer 2

B. The cause and other factors that influence the occurrence of disease; things that people might have been exposed to that led to the development of the disease.

Question 3

Identify the meaning of Prevalence?

A. The study of disease and its global impact
B. The cause and other factors influence the occurrence of disease
C. Number of existing cases
D. Number of new cases

Answer 3

C. The number of existing cases of an outcome of interest (i.e. Schizophrenia) in a defined population at one point in time.

Question 4

Identify the meaning of incidence?

A. The number of new cases arising from a defined population
B. The number of existing cases arising from a defined population
C. The study of disease and its global impact
D. The cause and other factors influence the occurrence of disease

Answer 4

A. Number of new cases of an outcome of interest, arising from a defined population, during a time interval.

Question 5

Epidemiology and Comorbidity

Australians with mental health report

• 29.3% have a mental health condition and one chronic condition
• 30.% have a mental health condition and two or more chronic conditions
• 40.2% reports mental health condition and no other chronic condition

What are the common comorbidities?

Answer 5

• Circulatory system disease
• Diabetes
• Asthma
• Arthritis
• Cancer

Question 6

The aggregate cost of the burden of disease from neurological (including stroke), mental health and substance disorders in Australia.

Answer 6

The cost was $74 billion in 2017.

See week 3 in VU collaborate, p 18 of the MINDGARDENS White Paper or listen to the Health Report podcast dated 18th March 2019.

Question 7

How is the Burden of Disease measured?

A. Number of Deaths
B. Number of Loss years of life
C. Disability-adjusted life years
D. Disability leading to death

Answer 7

One DALY can be thought of as one lost year of “healthy” life, either through premature death or from living with an illness or injury