A new article published in the Community Mental Health Journal finds that Global Burden of Disease (GBD) estimates are likely inaccurate for major depressive disorders (MDD). The current work, led by Lisa Cosgrove from the University of Massachusetts, reports that the majority of methods used to estimate GBD for MDD were not designed to diagnose depression. Additionally, most of these methods do not evaluate the severity of depressive symptoms.
The Movement for Global Mental Health has used GBD estimates for depression to call for scaling up mental health services worldwide. Some experts have warned that scaling up these services can take focus and resources away from programs that address likely causes of distress, such as poverty, food scarcity, violence, and poor housing conditions.
GBD estimates can have significant effects on policy decisions. These numbers are also used to calculate the economic costs of conditions like depression which can affect how mental health resources are allocated. Inaccurate estimates of conditions like depression can result in ineffective use of resources, which is especially burdensome for lower income countries with few resources. The authors write:
“most of the studies used instruments that were not designed to make a diagnosis of depression or assess depression severity. Our results are congruent with and extend previous research that has identified critical flaws in the data underpinning the GBD estimates for MDD. Despite the widespread promotion of these prevalence estimates, caution is needed before using them to inform public policy and mental health interventions. This is particularly important in lower-income countries where resources are scarce.”
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Jesuits lose their hold on the trees. These old trees. Good hiding places. Now is the time to stockpile: studs an entire tree with seeds, grains, deliver. We are waste and all the waste of the Earth. Nothing in nature goes to waste. But this one’s too hard – America. Unlike squirrels and nut hatches, you depend on a million veins of trade, livestock, waste, debt and foreign trade flows. Won’t get eaten by bears. The world isolates you – he makes too many enemies: he makes US number 1 enemy. Trump – obviously a spiritual manifestation. Of what? Karma – justice. Bleached the world with that. 12/12/12 – judgement. 12/12/24 – judgement manifest. It’s so obvious. Male grasshoppers jump into the fire. I am scared of my shadow, and these my black eyes: Zero/No-one. I am that.
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