Prevalence

• Prevalence rates

  Measure of total cases in a given population • Can be complex and affected by various factors:

  • Cultural differences
  • Socioeconomic factors
  • Gender differences • Not stable over time
• Types of prevalence

  • Point prevalence: Proportion of population with disorder at a specific point in time. • Lifetime prevalence: Proportion of population that experiences the disorder at some point in their life
• Understanding prevalence rates requires considering cultural, socioeconomic, and gender differences, as well as changes over time
• Prevalence and characteristics

  • Accounts for about 1/3 of psychiatric hospital admissions in UK • 2-3 times more common in women than men • More frequent in lower socio-economic groups and young adults • Recurrent disorder (80% experience subsequent episodes) • Average of 4 episodes, typically lasting 3-4 months • 12% become chronic, lasting about 2 years
• Prevalence of Disorders


  Prevalence rates in psychology provide crucial insights into the occurrence of mental health disorders within populations. However, these rates are not merely statistical figures; they offer complex information influenced by various factors.
• Prevalence: 


  The proportion of a population with a specific disorder at a given time.
• Incidence: 


  The number of new cases diagnosed within a specific timeframe.
• Lifetime prevalence: 


  The proportion of a population that experiences a disorder at some point in life.
• Factors Affecting Prevalence Rates:

  1. Cultural Differences
  2. Changes Over Time
  3. Globalization
  4. Methodological Issues
• Cultural Differences:


  • Symptoms may vary across cultures for the same disorder.
  • Diagnostic criteria may not align with cultural expressions of distress.
• Changes Over Time:

  • Environmental factors can trigger disorders.
  • Social norms and stigma reduction may increase reporting.
  • Improved identification of risk factors may reduce prevalence.
• Globalization:

  • Exposure to media from other cultures may change the expression of psychological distress.
  • Marketing of pharmaceuticals may increase awareness and diagnosis rates.
• Methodological Issues:

  • Data collection methods may change over time.
  • Diagnostic criteria may evolve, affecting prevalence estimates.
• Importance of Studying Prevalence:


  1. Public health planning and resource allocation
  2. Treatment planning and intervention strategies
  3. Raising public awareness and reducing stigma
  4. Developing prevention strategies
• Barriers to Determining Prevalence Rates:

  1. Underreporting due to stigma
  2. Misdiagnosis and comorbidity
  3. Variability in diagnostic criteria
  4. Limited access to mental health services
  5. Cultural differences in understanding mental health
  6. Challenges with self-reporting
• Understanding these factors is crucial for interpreting prevalence data accurately and developing effective mental health strategies.
• Brown & Harris:

  Claim that women live more strsssful life events
• Kendler  study

  Claims that Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is more heritable in women than in men
• Sociocultural Approach 


  Claim that women experience more stressful life events due to  Factors such as:

  • Socioeconomic: poverty, lower social class
  • Gender norms and expectations
  • Gender-based discrimination
  • Wage gaps
  • More exposure to trauma and abuse
  • Double shifts (balancing career and household responsibilities)
  • Unrealistic beauty standards
• Biological Approach 


  • More heritable in women 

  • Hormonal fluctuations 

  • More sensitive Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis

  • Higher cortisol response to stress 

  • Lower serotonin production. 

  The interaction between genetic predisposition and hormonal factors may contribute to increased vulnerability in women.
• Cognitive Approach 


  • Women tend to ruminate more 

  • Lower self-esteem 

  • Negative body image 

  • Higher interpersonal sensitivity