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Twelve-month treatment of psychiatric disorders in the South African Stress and Health Study (World Mental Health Survey Initiative)

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Abstract

Background

The proportion of people with mental disorders in treatment is relatively small in low and middle income countries. However, little is known about patterns of recent service use in a country like South Africa.

Methods

A nationally representative household survey of 4,351 adult South Africans was carried out. Twelve-month DSM-IV disorders were determined using the WHO composite international diagnostic interview (CIDI). Prevalence and correlates of treatment were assessed among respondents with anxiety, mood and substance use disorders.

Results

One-fourth (25.5%) of respondents with a 12-month disorder had received treatment in the past 12 months either from a psychiatrist (3.8%), nonpsychiatrist mental health specialist (2.9%), general medical provider (16.6%), human services provider (6.6%), or complementary-alternative medical (CAM) provider (5.9%). Only 27.6% of severe cases had received any treatment. In addition, 13.4% of respondents with no disorder had accessed services in the past year. Blacks were significantly more likely than other racial groups to access the CAM sector while Whites were more likely to have seen a psychiatrist.

Conclusions

The majority of South Africans with a 12-month mental disorder have unmet treatment needs. In addition to a greater allocation of resources to mental health services, more community outreach and awareness initiatives are needed.

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Acknowledgments

The South Africa Stress and Health study was funded by grant R01-MH059575 from the National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute of Drug Abuse with supplemental funding from the South African Department of Health and the University of Michigan. Drs. Stein and Seedat are also supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC) of South Africa.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. MRC Unit on Anxiety Disorders, University of Stellenbosch, PO Box 19063, Tygerberg, 7505, Cape Town, South Africa

    Soraya Seedat

  2. Dept. of Psychiatry, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

    D. J. Stein

  3. National School of Public Health, MEDUNSA, Limpopo, South Africa

    A. Herman

  4. Dept. of Health Care Policy, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    R. Kessler

  5. School of Public Health, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA

    D. Williams

  6. Dept. of Health Science and Administration, University of Michigan-Flint, Flint, USA

    J. Sonnega

  7. Survey Research Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    S. Heeringa

  8. Dept. of Psychology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, USA

    S. Williams

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  1. Soraya Seedat
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  2. D. J. Stein
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  3. A. Herman
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Correspondence to Soraya Seedat.

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Seedat, S., Stein, D.J., Herman, A. et al. Twelve-month treatment of psychiatric disorders in the South African Stress and Health Study (World Mental Health Survey Initiative). Soc Psychiat Epidemiol 43, 889–897 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0399-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-008-0399-9

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