Week 3: The Societal Burden of Mental Ill-Health

Question 1

A collaborative effort by the World Health Organization and other institutions to estimate the global morbidity and mortality from various diseases and injuries.

Answer 1

Global Burden of Disease (GBD)

Question 2

Used by WHO as an index of disability

Answer 2

Disability-adjusted Life Year (DALY)

Question 3

Are a leading cause of disability across the world - not usually fatal but cause long-term disability.

Answer 3

Mental Disorders

Question 4

Most disabling and common disorder.

Answer 4

Depression

Question 5

The total number of cases of a disease or condition present in a population at a given time.

Answer 5

Prevalence

Question 6

Economic Impact of Mental Health Disorders

Answer 6

Direct costs (treatment and care)
Indirect costs (lost productivity and cost experienced by carers)
Hidden Costs (pain and suffering from the illness)

Question 7

This refers to the economic loss that occurs when individuals with mental health conditions are unable to participate fully in work, education, or other productive activities.

Answer 7

Lost Productivity

Question 8

Assigning a numerical value to each disorder to reflect its severity and impact on quality of life.

Answer 8

Weighting disorders

Question 9

How do we measure the burden of mental disorders?

Answer 9

1) Estimate prevalence
2) Weighting disorders
3) Account for premature mortality

Question 10

Death occurring before the expected lifespan.

Answer 10

Premature Mortality

Question 11

Primarily affect the nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves).

Examples: Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, stroke
Characteristics: physical symptoms like weakness, numbness, or pain

Answer 11

Neurological Disorders

Question 12

Primarily affect mental health and behavior.

Examples: Depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia

Characteristics: Emotional, cognitive, or behavioral symptoms

Answer 12

Psychiatric Disorders

Question 13

A broader term that can encompass both psychiatric and psychological conditions.

Examples: Includes psychiatric disorders but also conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or adjustment disorders

Characteristics: Emotional, cognitive, and behavioral difficulties

Answer 13

Psychological Disorders

Question 14

A combination of neurological and psychiatric conditions.

Examples: Bipolar disorder (involves both mood swings and brain function), Tourette’s syndrome (involves both tics and neurotransmitter imbalances)

Characteristics: Involve both physical and mental symptoms.

Answer 14

Neuropsychiatric Disorders

Question 15

Primarily focus on the cognitive impairments that result from brain dysfunction.

These impairments can include:
Memory problems, Attention difficulties, Language problems, Executive function impairments

Examples: Dyslexia, ADHD, Parkinson’s Disease

Answer 15

Neuropsychological Disorders

Question 16

Ranks the leading causes of disease burden in both high-income and low-income countries.

Answer 16

Global Burden of Disease (GBD)

Question 17

Prevalent mental and neurological disorders in high-income countries (EU) as reported by GBD

Answer 17

1) Unipolar depressive disorders
2) Alzheimer’s and other dementias
3) Alcohol-use disorders
4) Drug-use disorders
5) Schizophrenia
6) Bipolar affective disorder

Question 18

Prevalent mental and neurological disorders in low-income countries (EU) as reported by GBD

Answer 18

1) Unipolar depressive disorders
2) Alcohol-use disorders
3) Schizophrenia
4) Bipolar Affective Disorder
5) Epilepsy
6) Alzheimer’s and other dementias

Question 19

Major disorders in Europe (Wittchen, 2011)

Answer 19

1) Unipolar depression
2) Dementias
3) Schizophrenia
4) Bipolar Disorder

Question 20

Are the most significant non-communicable diseases (NCD).

Answer 20

Mental Disorders

Question 21

What was stated by the World Economic Forum report in 2011?

Answer 21

“Economic policy-makers are naturally concerned about economic growth. The evidence presented in this report indicated that it would be illogical and irresponsible to care about economic growth and simultaneously ignore NCDs. Interventions in this area will undeniably be costly. But inaction is likely to be far more costly.”

Question 22

Focus on developing new treatments, understanding the causes of mental illness, and evaluating the effectiveness of different interventions.

Answer 22

Research Agenda

Question 23

Focus on implementing evidence-based treatments, promoting the use of technology-assisted interventions, and improving the quality of mental health care.

Answer 23

Practice Agenda

Question 23

Focus on increasing funding for mental health services, reducing stigma, and improving access to care.

Answer 23

Policy Agenda

Question 24

These are factors that increase the likelihood of developing a mental health condition.

Examples: Genetics, environment, substance-abuse, medical conditions

Answer 24

Risk Factors

Question 25

These are factors that can reduce the risk of developing or worsening a mental health condition. Examples: Social support, coping skills, resilience

Answer 25

Protective Factors

Question 26

Goals of the Grand Challenges in Global Mental Health

Answer 26

• Identify root causes, risk and protective factors
• Advance prevention and implementation of early interventions
• Improve treatments and expand access to care
• Raise awareness of the global burden
• Build human resource capacity
• Transform health-system and policy responses