Psychiatric Epidemiology: Descriptions and Challenges Across the Lifespan

According to Kessler et als.’ review, mental disorders are among the most prevalent of chronic “diseases” with a life-time prevalence that approaches 50 percent of the population and with 12-month prevalence rates in the 15-25 percent range. Actually, the extent of mental disorders is unclear. Social desirability factors, nay saying, or even lying may bias psychometric attempts to gather accurate epidemiological data. Unfortunately, many people who seek treatment for a mental disorder describe a course of treatment that even minimally satisfies current, existing treatment guidelines. This, added to the fact that new information regarding mental disorders is constantly being revealed, increases the need for clinical practitioners to keep abreast of psychiatric epidemiology. This course provides an update on information concerning mental disorders among children, adults, and older persons.