TY - JOUR
T1 - Estimating mental distress in Vietnam
T2 - the use of the SRQ-20
AU - Richardson, Lisa
AU - Amstadter, Ananda
AU - Kilpatrick, Dean
AU - Gaboury, Mario
AU - Tran, Trinh Luong
AU - Tam, Nguyen
AU - Tuan, Tran
AU - Buoi, La
AU - Ha, Tran
AU - Tran, Thach
AU - Acierno, Ron
PY - 2010
Y1 - 2010
N2 - ABSTRACT
Background: Community-based estimates of psychopathology prevalence in
developing countries such as Vietnam, are needed to reduce presumed signifi cant
burden of poor mental health.
Aims: This study derived population-based prevalence estimates of mental distress,
as measured by the SRQ-20, in a community sample of 4,981 adults living in
Vietnam. This study also examined correlates of mental distress based on SRQ-20
caseness indications. Risk and protective factors were identifi ed in terms of their
unique contribution to caseness.
Results: Using a cut-off of 7/8, 19.2 of the sample was considered to be a
probable case (n = 954), with females endorsing more items than males. Marital
status and employment status were not associated with mental health distress.
Higher wealth, endorsing religious affi liation, and self-reports of good health were
associated with lower SRQ-20 scores. Age and being female were associated
with higher SRQ-20 scores.
Conclusions: A single item was as adequate a measure of wealth as multi-item
rating scales. Our estimate of mental distress using the SRQ-20 is much greater than
that of other studies, and in contrast to western prevalence studies, age was not a
protective factor in this study. The SRQ-20 is a brief, cost-effective and reasonably
valid measure of both community and individual mental distress.
Key words: community estimate, mental distress, mental health, Self Reporting
Questionnaire 20, SRQ-20, Vietnam
AB - ABSTRACT
Background: Community-based estimates of psychopathology prevalence in
developing countries such as Vietnam, are needed to reduce presumed signifi cant
burden of poor mental health.
Aims: This study derived population-based prevalence estimates of mental distress,
as measured by the SRQ-20, in a community sample of 4,981 adults living in
Vietnam. This study also examined correlates of mental distress based on SRQ-20
caseness indications. Risk and protective factors were identifi ed in terms of their
unique contribution to caseness.
Results: Using a cut-off of 7/8, 19.2 of the sample was considered to be a
probable case (n = 954), with females endorsing more items than males. Marital
status and employment status were not associated with mental health distress.
Higher wealth, endorsing religious affi liation, and self-reports of good health were
associated with lower SRQ-20 scores. Age and being female were associated
with higher SRQ-20 scores.
Conclusions: A single item was as adequate a measure of wealth as multi-item
rating scales. Our estimate of mental distress using the SRQ-20 is much greater than
that of other studies, and in contrast to western prevalence studies, age was not a
protective factor in this study. The SRQ-20 is a brief, cost-effective and reasonably
valid measure of both community and individual mental distress.
Key words: community estimate, mental distress, mental health, Self Reporting
Questionnaire 20, SRQ-20, Vietnam
UR - http://isp.sagepub.com/content/56/2/133.full.pdf
M3 - Article
SN - 0020-7640
VL - 56
SP - 133
EP - 142
JO - International Journal of Social Psychiatry
JF - International Journal of Social Psychiatry
IS - 2
ER -