TY - JOUR
T1 - Understanding the impact of brain disorders
T2 - Towards a 'horizontal epidemiology' of psychosocial difficulties and their determinants
AU - Cieza, Alarcos
AU - Anczewska, Marta
AU - Ayuso-Mateos, Jose Luis
AU - Baker, Mary
AU - Bickenbach, Jerome
AU - Chatterji, Somnath
AU - Hartley, Sally
AU - Leonardi, Matilde
AU - Pitkänen, Tuuli
AU - Coenen, Michaela
AU - Gall, Heinrich
AU - Kollerits, Barbara
AU - Sabariego, Carla
AU - Cabello, Maria
AU - Mellor, Blanca
AU - Vigil, Jordi
AU - Cerniauskaite, Milda
AU - Covelli, Venusia
AU - Giovannetti, Ambra
AU - Quintas, Rui
AU - Raggi, Alberto
AU - Schiavolin, Silvia
AU - Ballert, Carolina
AU - Brach, Mirjam
AU - Lückenkemper, Miriam
AU - Benbow, Alastair
AU - Hawrot, Tadeusz
AU - Charzyńska, Katarzyna
AU - Chrostek, Anna
AU - ͆witaj, Piotr
AU - Roszczyńska-Michta, Joanna
AU - Waszkiewicz, Justyna
AU - Finocchiaro, Carla
AU - Cogoni, Serena
AU - Holopainen, Antti
AU - Jokela, Kirsi
AU - Kaskela, Teemu
AU - Levola, Jonna
AU - Tourunen, Jouni
PY - 2015/9/9
Y1 - 2015/9/9
N2 - Objective To test the hypothesis of 'horizontal epidemiology', i.e. that psychosocial difficulties (PSDs), such as sleep disturbances, emotional instability and difficulties in personal interactions, and their environmental determinants are experienced in common across neurological and psychiatric disorders, together called brain disorders. Study Design A multi-method study involving systematic literature reviews, content analysis of patientreported outcomes and outcome instruments, clinical input and a qualitative study was carried out to generate a pool of PSD and environmental determinants relevant for nine different brain disorders, namely epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia, depression, schizophrenia and substance dependency. Information from these sources was harmonized and compiled, and after feedback from external experts, a data collection protocol including PSD and determinants common across these nine disorders was developed. This protocol was implemented as an interview in a cross-sectional study including a convenience sample of persons with one of the nine brain disorders. PSDs endorsed by at least 25% of patients with a brain disorder were considered associated with the disorder. PSD were considered common across disorders if associated to 5 out of the 9 brain disorders and if among the 5 both neurological and psychiatric conditions were represented. Setting The data collection protocol with 64 PSDs and 20 determinants was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 722 persons in four specialized health care facilities in Europe. Results 57 of the PSDs and 16 of the determinants included in the protocol were found to be experienced across brain disorders. Conclusion This is the first evidence that supports the hypothesis of horizontal epidemiology in brain disorders. This result challenges the brain disorder-specific or vertical approach in which clinical and epidemiological research about psychosocial difficulties experienced in daily life is commonly carried in neurology and psychiatry and the way in which the corresponding health care delivery is practiced in many countries of the world.
AB - Objective To test the hypothesis of 'horizontal epidemiology', i.e. that psychosocial difficulties (PSDs), such as sleep disturbances, emotional instability and difficulties in personal interactions, and their environmental determinants are experienced in common across neurological and psychiatric disorders, together called brain disorders. Study Design A multi-method study involving systematic literature reviews, content analysis of patientreported outcomes and outcome instruments, clinical input and a qualitative study was carried out to generate a pool of PSD and environmental determinants relevant for nine different brain disorders, namely epilepsy, migraine, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, stroke, dementia, depression, schizophrenia and substance dependency. Information from these sources was harmonized and compiled, and after feedback from external experts, a data collection protocol including PSD and determinants common across these nine disorders was developed. This protocol was implemented as an interview in a cross-sectional study including a convenience sample of persons with one of the nine brain disorders. PSDs endorsed by at least 25% of patients with a brain disorder were considered associated with the disorder. PSD were considered common across disorders if associated to 5 out of the 9 brain disorders and if among the 5 both neurological and psychiatric conditions were represented. Setting The data collection protocol with 64 PSDs and 20 determinants was used to collect data from a convenience sample of 722 persons in four specialized health care facilities in Europe. Results 57 of the PSDs and 16 of the determinants included in the protocol were found to be experienced across brain disorders. Conclusion This is the first evidence that supports the hypothesis of horizontal epidemiology in brain disorders. This result challenges the brain disorder-specific or vertical approach in which clinical and epidemiological research about psychosocial difficulties experienced in daily life is commonly carried in neurology and psychiatry and the way in which the corresponding health care delivery is practiced in many countries of the world.
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U2 - 10.1371/journal.pone.0136271
DO - 10.1371/journal.pone.0136271
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84944755224
VL - 10
JO - PLoS One
JF - PLoS One
SN - 1932-6203
IS - 9
M1 - e0136271
ER -