Mental disorders and termination of education in high-income and low- and middle-income countries: epidemiological study.

Full Abstract

BACKGROUND: Studies of the impact of mental disorders on educational attainment are rare in both high-income and low- and middle-income (LAMI) countries. AIMS: To examine the association between early-onset mental disorder and subsequent termination of education. METHOD: Sixteen countries taking part in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Survey Initiative were surveyed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (n=41 688). Survival models were used to estimate associations between DSM-IV mental disorders and subsequent non-attainment of educational milestones. RESULTS: In high-income countries, prior substance use disorders were associated with non-completion at all stages of education (OR 1.4-15.2). Anxiety disorders (OR=1.3), mood disorders (OR=1.4) and impulse control disorders (OR=2.2) were associated with early termination of secondary education. In LAMI countries, impulse control disorders (OR=1.3) and substance use disorders (OR=1.5) were associated with early termination of secondary education. CONCLUSIONS: Onset of mental disorder and subsequent non-completion of education are consistently associated in both high-income and LAMI countries.

Author information

Author/s: Lee, S (S); Tsang, A (A); Breslau, J (J); Aguilar-Gaxiola, S (S); Angermeyer, M (M); Borges, G (G); Bromet, E (E); Bruffaerts, R (R); de Girolamo, G (G); Fayyad, J (J); Gureje, O (O); Haro, J M (JM); Kawakami, N (N); Levinson, D (D); Oakley Browne, M A (MA); Ormel, J (J); Posada-Villa, J (J); Williams, D R (DR); Kessler, R C (RC);

Affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, Hong Kong Mood Disorders Centre, 7A, Block E, Staff Quarters, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong. singlee(-atsign-)cuhk.edu.hk

Grants: R01-DA016558 (Agency:NIDA NIH HHS) ; R01-MH059575 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-MH069864 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-MH070884 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-MH61905 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; R01-TW006481 (Agency:FIC NIH HHS) ; R13-MH066849 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS) ; U01-MH60220 (Agency:NIMH NIH HHS)

Journal and publication information

Publication Type: Journal Article; Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't; Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

Journal: The British journal of psychiatry : the journal of mental science (Br J Psychiatry), published in England. (Language: eng)

Reference: 2009-May; vol 194 (issue 5) : pp 411-7

Dates: Created 2009/05/01; Completed 2009/09/21;

PMID: 19407270, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 9/21/2009, IMS Date: )

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