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Erschienen in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology 8/2016

31.05.2016 | Original Paper

Psychiatric disorders among adolescents from Lebanon: prevalence, correlates, and treatment gap

verfasst von: Fadi T. Maalouf, Lilian A. Ghandour, Fadi Halabi, Pia Zeinoun, Al Amira Safa Shehab, Lucy Tavitian

Erschienen in: Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology | Ausgabe 8/2016

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Abstract

Purpose

Adolescence is a critical age for the development of psychiatric disorders. Although Lebanon, a low-to-middle income country, has suffered from decades of war and political instability, the burden of psychiatric disorders among adolescents in Lebanon remains unclear. This study aims to estimate the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adolescents in the Lebanese capital, Beirut, and to study the correlates and treatment seeking behavior associated with these disorders.

Methods

Through a multistage cluster sampling design, 510 adolescents, aged 11–17 years were recruited from a household sample in Beirut in 2012. Parents and adolescents completed a battery of self-reported questionnaires and interviews including the Development and Well-being Assessment (DAWBA), the Peer-Relations Questionnaire (PRQ), and a demographic/clinical information questionnaire. Logistic regression models were used to study the correlates of psychiatric disorders.

Results

The 30-day prevalence of psychiatric disorders was 26.1 %, with anxiety disorders (13.1 %) and ADHD (10.2 %) being the most prevalent disorders. Only 6 % of those with disorders reported seeking professional help. Parental marital status, not attending school, having a chronic medical condition, having a family history of psychiatric disorders, as well as propensity to bullying and to being victimized by peers emerged as correlates of having psychiatric disorders.

Conclusions

A clear treatment gap is evident with a high 30-day prevalence of psychiatric disorders among adolescents in Beirut coupled with a very low percentage seeking treatment. Scaling up mental health services and addressing potential barriers to seeking care would be important to close this gap.
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Metadaten
Titel
Psychiatric disorders among adolescents from Lebanon: prevalence, correlates, and treatment gap
verfasst von
Fadi T. Maalouf
Lilian A. Ghandour
Fadi Halabi
Pia Zeinoun
Al Amira Safa Shehab
Lucy Tavitian
Publikationsdatum
31.05.2016
Verlag
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Erschienen in
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology / Ausgabe 8/2016
Print ISSN: 0933-7954
Elektronische ISSN: 1433-9285
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-016-1241-4

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