Common mental disorders in Santiago, Chile - Prevalence and socio-demographic correlates

Background There have been relatively few surveys in Latin America that hav e attempted to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in private households. Aims To determine the prevalence of common mental disorders and sociodemogr aphic correlates among adults from Santiago, Chile. Method Cross-sectional survey of private households with a probabilistic sa mpling design was used. Common mental disorders were measured using the Cli nical Interview Schedule-Revised (CIS-R). Results Three thousand eight hundred and seventy adults were interviewed. T wenty-five per cent were CIS- R cases and 13% met criteria for an ICD-10 di agnosis. Low education, female gender, unemployment, separation, low social status and lone parenthood were associated with a higher prevalence. Conclusions Prevalence rates were higher than those found in urban areas of Great Britain, both for ICD-IO diagnoses and 'non-specific neurotic disord ers'. Similar socio-demographic factors were associated with an increased p revalence of common mental disorders in Chile as in the UK. There is a need to unify methodologies to be able to compare results internationally. Declaration of interest This study was funded by the European Community.