What is psychiatric epidemiology?

Epidemiology is the study of transmission and prevalence of the disease in the population. Although it is often used to monitor the movement of infectious diseases, epidemiology can also be used to map the characteristics of non -portable diseases such as psychiatric diseases. Psychiatric epidemiological scientists look at factors, such as where there are often diseases, the number of affected and which interventions of public health are useful in decreasing the level of disease. Interpretation of statistics, collection of medical records and research studies are important tools for a person investigating aspects of psychiatric epidemiology.

Psychiatric disease is generally not related to infectious diseases, so it does not have the ability to move from man to man. In a certain population, such as the city, for example, the presence of this type of disease does not apply as a predictable formula as an infectious disease. Despite this, psychiatric epidemiology can still be a useful tool of FPNO scientists who want to get an overall OBraz disease in the population.

In order to do this, scientists need data to create a realistic population image. This data can be obtained from existing sources such as medical records and statistics that have already been calculated by other scientists. However, a scientist often has to create new data sources such as bringing people to fill in questionnaires or undergo interviews. Once all the necessary data, statistics and computer programs that create information models are usually used to create usable and understandable results from raw data.

For example, suicide falls into the realm of psychiatric disease. Different factors can increase the likelihood of suicide in some people than others. A person with an existing psychiatric disease, such as schizophrenia, may be more at risk of suicide, while a person Wijiný psychiatric problem may not be at increased risk. If a psychiatrist knows the PraThe person is likely to commit suicide on the basis of his existing illness, a psychiatrist may be able to adapt the treatment of a person appropriately. Other indicators that may, for example, affect the chance of suicide, may be problems such as abuse, lack of social life or poor socio -economic conditions.

Psychiatric epidemiology data can also be used to adapt public health services to those who need it most. When the researcher finds that, for example, depression is particularly high in women who have just gave birth, nurses and doctors can be particularly vigilant for signs of postnatal depression in new mothers and introduce medical systems accordingly. The emergence of previously rare psychiatric problems, such as attention disorder and hyperactivity (ADHD), can also be mapped and identified using psychiatric epidemiology, which draws attention to the attention of the health authorities of the problem.