Comments on: Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/ Dr. John Grohol's daily update on all things in psychology and mental health. Since 1999. Sat, 26 May 2012 02:27:01 +0000 hourly 1 By: Dying for Help: A stark look at teen mental health, Part I « The Mental Health Minute http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-636834 Dying for Help: A stark look at teen mental health, Part I « The Mental Health Minute Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:02:52 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-636834 [...] Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (psychcentral.com) [...] [...] Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (psychcentral.com) [...]

]]> By: Mental health critical to reform « The Mental Health Minute http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-636695 Mental health critical to reform « The Mental Health Minute Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:08:30 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-636695 [...] Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (psychcentral.com) [...] [...] Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (psychcentral.com) [...]

]]> By: kb http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-635165 kb Mon, 19 Oct 2009 18:18:23 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-635165 Interesting visual. A quibble I can't resist expressing: technically there is no such thing as a prevalence rate. Prevalence is a "snapshot" measure of how many cases there are of a disease at a particular time. A rate, on the other hand, is measured over a period of time. So either mental disorders are measured at a given point in time (prevalence) or they are measured over a period of time (incidence/rate per unit time). The source for the data is rather vague (NIMH and others) but I suspect the data are intended as prevalences, not as rates. So the chart could simply be titled "Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders." Here is an explanation of prevalence vs. incidence: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/specialarticles/jcn_9_188.pdf Interesting visual. A quibble I can’t resist expressing: technically there is no such thing as a prevalence rate. Prevalence is a “snapshot” measure of how many cases there are of a disease at a particular time. A rate, on the other hand, is measured over a period of time. So either mental disorders are measured at a given point in time (prevalence) or they are measured over a period of time (incidence/rate per unit time).
The source for the data is rather vague (NIMH and others) but I suspect the data are intended as prevalences, not as rates. So the chart could simply be titled “Prevalence of Common Mental Disorders.”

Here is an explanation of prevalence vs. incidence: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/specialarticles/jcn_9_188.pdf

]]> By: Mental Health Patient http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-634669 Mental Health Patient Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:03:35 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-634669 I like the diagram too - but what do the union of the circles indicate? At first I thought it was a Venn diagram representing comorbidity, but a quick second look gave me the impression the overlapping circles only represent subtypes of the major disorders. With this degree of prevalence of mental health problems, one would think discussing such issues with peers would be more comfortable. From my personal experience, I have found this is not the case. Not only do I feel isolated trying to get through graduate school with these challenges, but I have also found that bringing the issue up for discussion or sharing often leaves me feeling even more isolated. I like the diagram too – but what do the union of the circles indicate? At first I thought it was a Venn diagram representing comorbidity, but a quick second look gave me the impression the overlapping circles only represent subtypes of the major disorders.

With this degree of prevalence of mental health problems, one would think discussing such issues with peers would be more comfortable. From my personal experience, I have found this is not the case. Not only do I feel isolated trying to get through graduate school with these challenges, but I have also found that bringing the issue up for discussion or sharing often leaves me feeling even more isolated.

]]> By: Hazel http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-634455 Hazel Wed, 07 Oct 2009 16:55:58 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-634455 This is a very interesting visual depiction. I appreciate this but I thought we would see more of the prevalent problems in the US. Perhaps I am misinformed but I thought the three top psychological illnesses were substance abuse, anxiety and depression. Perhaps not in that order but I've been looking to find some good statistics on this. Might you have any? This is a very interesting visual depiction. I appreciate this but I thought we would see more of the prevalent problems in the US. Perhaps I am misinformed but I thought the three top psychological illnesses were substance abuse, anxiety and depression. Perhaps not in that order but I’ve been looking to find some good statistics on this. Might you have any?

]]> By: Erin http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-634325 Erin Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:55:48 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-634325 Thank you for this! This is great. I am really surprised at all the numbers especially for Bipolar and Schizophrenia. The media portrays it as if every other person suffers from those illnesses. Also, being a GAD/Panic disorder sufferer myself I Am surprised those numbers weren't higher. But I guess that's what happens when you have something, you just assume it's more common among everyone else! Thanks again! Thank you for this! This is great. I am really surprised at all the numbers especially for Bipolar and Schizophrenia. The media portrays it as if every other person suffers from those illnesses. Also, being a GAD/Panic disorder sufferer myself I Am surprised those numbers weren’t higher. But I guess that’s what happens when you have something, you just assume it’s more common among everyone else! Thanks again!

]]> By: Bryan http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-634319 Bryan Mon, 05 Oct 2009 22:05:47 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-634319 This graphic representation of data is helpful and seems to be accurate (e.g., using meta-analytic data from studies of eating disorders). Notably, if alcohol and substance abuse and dependence were represented here, they would take up quite a bit of space! Thanks for the helpful graphic! This graphic representation of data is helpful and seems to be accurate (e.g., using meta-analytic data from studies of eating disorders).

Notably, if alcohol and substance abuse and dependence were represented here, they would take up quite a bit of space!

Thanks for the helpful graphic!

]]> By: Finding Melissa http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-634315 Finding Melissa Mon, 05 Oct 2009 21:16:46 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-634315 Given the number of people who experience a mental health condition, it's surprising that the awareness and understanding is still so low. Talking about mental health openly and honestly helps to challenge the myths about conditions such as <a href="http://www.findingmelissa.co.uk/tag/anorexia-nervosa/" rel="nofollow">anorexia</a> or <a>depression</a> - and might help us move on together. Now recovering from chronic anorexia bulimia, it's a relief to see that people are beginning to recognise the effective treatment out there - and that the number of sufferers for this devastating illness are not quite as high as I feared. Given the number of people who experience a mental health condition, it’s surprising that the awareness and understanding is still so low. Talking about mental health openly and honestly helps to challenge the myths about conditions such as anorexia or depression – and might help us move on together. Now recovering from chronic anorexia bulimia, it’s a relief to see that people are beginning to recognise the effective treatment out there – and that the number of sufferers for this devastating illness are not quite as high as I feared.

]]> By: John M Grohol PsyD http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-634308 John M Grohol PsyD Mon, 05 Oct 2009 19:50:30 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-634308 Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed it. I also found it an interesting way to visualize the data, so I thought others might find it useful as well. So much data is locked up in tables and charts that make it hard for our brains to properly visualize how it all relates and interacts with one another. Graphics like this can really open up to visualize comparisons in a more intuitive manner. Thanks, I’m glad you enjoyed it. I also found it an interesting way to visualize the data, so I thought others might find it useful as well.

So much data is locked up in tables and charts that make it hard for our brains to properly visualize how it all relates and interacts with one another. Graphics like this can really open up to visualize comparisons in a more intuitive manner.

]]> By: Bluesilk http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2009/10/05/prevalence-of-common-mental-disorders/comment-page-1/#comment-634299 Bluesilk Mon, 05 Oct 2009 18:43:21 +0000 http://psychcentral.com/blog/?p=6139#comment-634299 that's a really interesting way of visualising the different conditions. Personally, I was surprised that the eating disorders didn't occupy a larger percentage. It was also somewhat of a relief to see Social Phobia is more common than I thought, as it is one of those that can make the sufferer think they are on their own. that’s a really interesting way of visualising the different conditions.
Personally, I was surprised that the eating disorders didn’t occupy a larger percentage. It was also somewhat of a relief to see Social Phobia is more common than I thought, as it is one of those that can make the sufferer think they are on their own.

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