Peter Rüesch
Is there an increase in depression within the Swiss population? An analysis based on the ‘Swiss Mental Health Monitoring'
Authors
Peter Rüesch (Zurich University of Applied Sciences
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Daniela Schuler (Zurich University of Applied Sciences)
The public pays much attention to mental health problems, in particular to depression. It is assumed that this kind of mental disorder has increased in the Swiss population.
Research questions to be investigated: (1) Has there been an increase in depression within the Swiss population from 1997 to 2004? (2) Is there a difference between specific population subgroups (sex, age, SES) with regard to increase/decrease in depression during this time? (3) How many persons suffering from depression are seeking professional help?
Two problems arise examining the prevalence of depression: First, the lay persons’ use of the term ‚depression' only to some part corresponds to the clinical concept of professionals. Second, there are only few epidemiologically valid data available on mental disorders in Switzerland. This contribution attempts to integrate information from different data sources (Swiss Health Survey SHS, Swiss Household Panel, Medical Statistics) in order to make valid statements about the prevalence and time trends of depression in Switzerland. The core analysis is based on DSQ-measures of depressive symptoms from the SHS. Background of this work is the 'Swiss Mental Health Monitoring' for which the main-author wrote a baseline- as well as a trend-report in cooperation with the Swiss Health Observatory.
Findings from the trend-report indicate hardly any increase in depression from 1997-2004, however an increase in persons with depressive symptoms seeking professional help.
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Olivia Bolt
A cross-cultural comparison of social anxiety in Indonesia, India, Switzerland, and the Netherlands
Authors
Olivia Bolt (University of Basel)
Noortje Vriends (University of Basel)
Magdalena S. Halim (ATMA JAYA University, Jakarta (Indonesia))
Mitchell G. Weiss (Tropical Institute, Basel)
Eni Becker (Radboud University Nijmegen (NL))
Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) is one of the most common psychiatric disorders with major impairment. Although SAD is a universal phenomenon, numerous cultural variations within SAD may exist that need specific cultural sensitive prevention and psychotherapeutic intervention.
The present two studies investigate the differences in anxiety and avoidance of social fear situations in students from Indonesia, Switzerland, and the Netherlands, as well as the differences in SAD reported by psychologists and psychiatrists in Indonesia, India, Switzerland, and the Netherlands.
In Study 1 College students in Indonesia (N=190), Switzerland (N=198), and the Netherlands (N= 291) completed the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (Liebowitz, 1987; Heimberg et al. 1999). In Study 2 Psychologists and Psychiatrists in Indonesia (N=30), India (N=30), Switzerland (N=30), and the Netherlands (N= 30) completed an internet-based questionnaire about the culturally-bound symptoms, impairments and causes of SAD.
Preliminary results from study 1 indicate that students from Indonesia showed higher avoidance behavior of social fear situations than subjects from Switzerland and the Netherlands. Indonesian students and students from the Netherlands show higher anxiety in social fear situations than Swiss students. Perceived cultural differences within SAD as assessed in study 2 will be presented and discussed.
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Tina In-Albon
DIPS for DMS-IV-TR: Psychometric Properties and Acceptability
Authors
Tina In-Albon (University of Basel)
Andrea Suppiger (University of Basel)
Jürgen Margraf (University of Basel)
Silvia Schneider (University of Basel)
The purpose of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the “Diagnostisches Interview bei Psychischen Störungen” (DIPS für DSM-IV-TR; Schneider & Magraf, 2006), which has been expanded and adapted to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Two hundred and thirty-seven interviews were conducted in both inpatient and outpatient settings in order to test the reliability, validity and acceptability of the structured interview. Inter-rater reliability and retest reliability were examined. The validity of the DIPS diagnoses was evaluated via comparison with clinical questionnaire measures. A questionnaire to assess the acceptability of the interview was completed anonymously by patients and interviewers directly after the interview. The results indicated a good validity and reliability. Inter-rater reliability for the major diagnostic categories ranged from kappa values between .72 and .92 and Yule’s Y values ranged between .95 and 1.00. The percentage agreement for lifetime diagnoses reached 88% and above. Insufficient psychometric properties were found for generalized anxiety disorder and sleep disorders. Results indicated that the DIPS for DSM-IV-TR was highly accepted by a wide range of patients and interviewers in a variety of settings. In conclusion, the structured interview DIPS for DSM-IV-TR is a reliable and valid diagnostic tool, suitable for use even in difficult clinical settings.
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Tamara Leonova
The social dimensions of specific reading disabilities
Authors
Tamara Leonova (University of Fribourg)
There is no systematic research on the social dimensions of specific reading disabilities in French-speaking dyslexic children. The findings from other contries and languages are not consistent. The goal of this study is to explore the level of behavioural problems, anxiety, depression, social competence, social support and self-esteem in dyslexic children recruited in French-speaking cantons (Switzerland).
86 children identified as dyslexic by the school medical service and their parents participated to this study.
The assessment of different social dimesions was based on the next questionnaires filled out by parents and children:
- Strengths and difficulties questionnaire for the assessment of behavioural problems;
- Self-esteem questionnaire;
- Social support questionnaire;
- Anxiety questionnaire;
- Children depression inventory;
- Social skills rating system.
Information on health and development were obtained from parents on a separate questionnaire designed for the study.
The ANOVAs and MANOVAs analysis were performed comparing dyslexic and not dyslexic children. There were systematically significant differences on all the measures between the dyslexic children and the control group. The results are discussed in reference to the literature in this field. We conclude that French-speaking dyslexic children (Switzerland) represent at risk group concerning their social and academic adjustment. The educational and practical implications are also discussed.
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Elvira Abbruzzese
The circadian expression of clock genes in nine healthy young men
Authors
Elvira Abbruzzese (University of Zurich)
Sara Dainese (University of Zurich)
S Gisler (University of Zurich)
T Birchler (University of Zurich)
A Fontana (University of Zurich)
Ulrike Ehlert (University of Zurich)
Background:
The circadian rhythms of mammals are controlled by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, which coordinates and synchronizes the timing of transcriptional and translational feedback loops involving several clock genes. Amongst others the main “Zeitgeber” for this process is environmental light. Because of the difficulties in monitoring the oscillation of the SCN in humans, there are only few studies with human subjects up to now and the findings are limited to the peripheral clocks. On the other side there is an abundant amount of studies with animals, which show a circadian oscillation of the expression of clock genes. There is a need for further research in order to light up the interactions of circadian rhythms within humans.
Method:
In our pilot study we measured the expression of clock genes (Per1, Dbp, Clock, Bmal1) over 24 hours in 9 healthy young men. Blood and mucosa samples were taken repeatedly every four hours to measure the expression of clock genes in whole blood cells and mucosa cells. Additionally we took saliva samples to measure the cortisol levels at the same time intervals. To control for the general morningness respectively eveningness of the subjects we applied the german version of the morningness-eveningness-questionnaire (D-MEQ; Horne & Östberg).
Results:
Currently the data are under analysis.
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