We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Mood and Anxiety Disorders and the Use of Services and Psychotropic Medication in an Immigrant Population: Findings From the Israel National Health Survey.
- Authors
Ponizovsky, Alexander M.; Grinshpoon, Alexander
- Abstract
Objective: Using the Israel National Health Survey (INHS), we compared immigrants' 12-month prevalence of mental disorders and the use of services and psychotropic drugs with that of the general population. Methods: A representative sample of noninstitutionalized residents, aged 21 years and older, was drawn from the National Population Register. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) disorders were assessed using a revised version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Respondents were asked to report any health service and psychotropic drug use in the past 12 months. Results: During the 12 months preceding the INHS, immigrants and Israelis (that is, those born in Israel or those who emigrated to Israel before 1989) were equally likely to have a common mental disorder (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.7 to 1.1) and to use health services (OR 0.9; 95% CI 0.7 to 1.2). However, among respondents who did not meet the DSM-IV criteria for a specific mental disorder, the immigrants reported markedly more use of psychotropic drugs than the Israelis, in particular more anxiolytics, mood stabilizers, and hypnotics. Conclusion: The results suggest that the common mental disorders and mental health service use among the immigrants are no higher than that among their Israeli counterparts. The higher use of psychotropic drugs by immigrants may be an indirect indicator of a higher level of psychological distress symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and sleep disorders.
- Subjects
ISRAEL; AFFECTIVE disorders; ANXIETY; PSYCHIATRIC drugs; IMMIGRANTS; PSYCHIATRIC diagnosis; PATHOLOGICAL psychology; MEDICAL research
- Publication
Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 2009, Vol 54, Issue 6, p409
- ISSN
0706-7437
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1177/070674370905400608