Mental health conditions will be the largest contributor to the global health burden by 2030. Our review suggests that neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) predispose individuals to poor mental health. Factors predisposing to poor mental health include stigma and discrimination, exclusion from participating fully in society, reduced access to health and social services, lack of educational opportunities, exclusion from income-generation and employment opportunities, and restrictions in exercising civil and political rights. These characteristics are all features of NTDs, but the mental health of these sufferers has been ignored. This review raises an issue of concern and highlights the opportunities for research by psychiatrists and psychologists on NTDs.
BT - Trends in parasitology C1 -http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22475459?dopt=Abstract
CN - Litt2012 - NTD DO - 10.1016/j.pt.2012.03.001 IS - 5 J2 - Trends Parasitol. LA - eng N2 -Mental health conditions will be the largest contributor to the global health burden by 2030. Our review suggests that neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) predispose individuals to poor mental health. Factors predisposing to poor mental health include stigma and discrimination, exclusion from participating fully in society, reduced access to health and social services, lack of educational opportunities, exclusion from income-generation and employment opportunities, and restrictions in exercising civil and political rights. These characteristics are all features of NTDs, but the mental health of these sufferers has been ignored. This review raises an issue of concern and highlights the opportunities for research by psychiatrists and psychologists on NTDs.
PY - 2012 SP - 195 EP - 201 T2 - Trends in parasitology TI - Neglected tropical diseases and mental health: a perspective on comorbidity. VL - 28 SN - 1471-5007 ER -