Norman Sartorius

Developing methods for assessing quality of life in different cultural settings. The history of the WHOQOL instruments.

Abstract.Background:This review traces the 12-year history of an internationalncollaboration of researchers—the WHOQOL Group—who were broughtntogether by the World Health Organisation to develop and producena cross-cultural measure of quality of life for use in healthnand health care.Discussion:The theoretical and philosophical basis of the WHOQOLninstrument is outlined as it evolved throughout the design andnadjustment of a reflexive methodology that places an assessmentnof the users’ views at the centre of health care. The stages ofnresearch are further expanded and explained in recounting thenscientific experience of this unique collaboration. The WHOQOLnis available in 40 countries and most majority languages.nAdaptations exist for assessing particular conditions, e. g.nspirituality, religion and personal beliefs.

International study on antidepressant prescription pattern at 20 teaching hospitals and major psychiatric institutions in East Asia: Analysis of 1898 cases from China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan

Abstractu2003 The purpose of the present study was to review the prescription patterns of antidepressants in different countries in East Asia. The survey was conducted in China, Japan, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan from October 2003 to March 2004 using the unified research protocol and questionnaire. Twenty teaching hospitals and major psychiatric hospitals participated and a total of 1898 patients receiving antidepressants were analyzed. The survey provided a number of interesting characteristics on the prescription patterns of antidepressant in East Asia. Out of 56 antidepressants listed in the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification (ATC) index by the World Health Organization (WHO) Collaborating Center for Drug Statistics Methodology (Oslo), only 26 antidepressants were prescribed in participating countries in East Asia. On average 38.4% of prescriptions of antidepressants were for patients with diagnoses other than depressive disorders. The availability and commonly prescribed antidepressants varied greatly by country. The selective serotonin re‐uptake inhibitors (SSRI) and other newer antidepressants were prescribed in approximately 77.0% of all cases. At the time of the survey, only two SSRI medications were available in Japan. However, five types of SSRI were available and were often prescribed in Korea.

Understanding the Stigma of Mental Illness

Understanding the stigma of mental illness , Understanding the stigma of mental illness , کتابخانه مرکزی دانشگاه علوم پزشکی تهران