Cross-cultural epidemiology

Area of Science:

• Cross-cultural psychiatric epidemiology
• Mental health research

Background:

• The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) funded the Epidemiological Catchment Area Studies in the USA.
• Initiated cross-cultural psychiatric epidemiology research in Asia, including studies in Peru, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
• High costs of epidemiological studies in the USA prompted research in Asian countries.

Purpose of the Study:

• To foster psychiatric research in Lima, Peru, through an epidemiological study.
• To conduct psychiatric epidemiological studies in various Asian countries, including Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan.
• To compare the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among Chinese in Los Angeles with national data.

Main Methods:

• Conducted a two-phase epidemiological study in Lima, Peru, with Drs Shunichiro Hayashi, Kimpei Minobe, and Alberto Perales.
• Collaborated with international colleagues for psychiatric epidemiological studies in Asia.
• Performed pilot studies among Asian groups in Los Angeles, utilizing the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

Main Results:

• Epidemiological studies were completed in Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong.
• A study in Japan was not completed.
• Recent results compare psychiatric disorder prevalence among Chinese in Los Angeles with data from the National Comorbidity Study.

Conclusions:

• Cross-cultural psychiatric epidemiology is crucial for understanding global mental health.
• International collaboration is essential for conducting large-scale epidemiological research.
• Comparative studies, like the one involving the Chinese population in Los Angeles, provide valuable insights into mental health disparities.