The focus of this study is on descriptive analyses examining the prevalence of mental comorbidity among those who reported having a self-reported neurologic condition such as epilepsy, seizures or faint spells, as compared to other respondents with and without other chronic illnesses. The data came from the Mental Health Care Utilization Among Puerto Ricans (MHCUPR) longitudinal study from the Center for Evaluation and Sociomedical Research, Puerto Rico. The population consists of a community-based sample (n=3,500 adults) living in 1ow income areas of Puerto Rico. The data included measures of diagnosis of major depression, and dysthymia (CIDI), depressive symptomatology (CES-D) and psychological dysfunction scales (PSDS). Results from the last wave of data collection show that mental comorbidity among those who reported having a neurologic condition is more prevalent than in other respondents. The prevalence of last 12- months major depression and dysthymia was higher in respondents with neurologic conditions than in those with diabetes (11.65%), and even higher when compared to the sample as a whole (6.92%). The prevalence of current depressive symptomatology was twice as great among those with neurologic conditions (61.12%) as among those with diabetes (30.61%), and three times greater than the sample in general(19.40%). Results from PSDS, show that more than twice the respondents with neurologic conditions (50.48%) reported mental health need when compared to the total sample (19.09%) and even with only those with diabetes (22.95%). Implications of the presence of mental comorbid disorders in population with chronic illnesses is addressed.
Learning Objectives: To describe the differences in prevalence rates of mental comorbidity between respondents with and without chronic illnesses. To recognize the need of identifying mental comorbidity in people with chronic illnesses
Keywords: Mental Disorders, Chronic Illness
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.