PSYCHIATRIC EPIDEMIOLOGY IN CROSS-CULTURAL-PERSPECTIVE - A REVIEW

Advances in psychiatric research have reestablished the importance of psychiatric community epidemiological studies Psychiatric epidemiologi cal surveys that used the same standardized diagnostic interview and c lassification system in different parts of the world were reviewed. Th e lifetime prevalence for any psychiatric morbidity ranged from 21 to 65%. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was higher than that in t he first- and second-generation community surveys. The relevance of th ese findings to clinical practice, public health, and the directions f or future epidemiological research are discussed.