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Review
. 2018 Nov;5(11):940-944.
doi: 10.1016/S2215-0366(18)30342-0. Epub 2018 Oct 10.

Curtailing the communicability of psychiatric disorders

Milton L Wainberg  1 , Liat Helpman  2 , Cristiane S Duarte  3 , Sten H Vermund  4 , Jennifer J Mootz  3 , Lidia Gouveia  5 , Maria A Oquendo  6 , Karen McKinnon  3 , Francine Cournos  7
Affiliations
Review

Curtailing the communicability of psychiatric disorders

Milton L Wainberg et al. Lancet Psychiatry. 2018 Nov.

Abstract

Although psychiatric disorders are classified as non-communicable diseases, we believe this classification is too rigid and limiting. We present evidence of the communicability of psychiatric disorders through three major pathways: infectious and ecological, familial, and sociocultural communicability. Successful strategies developed to control the spread of communicable infectious diseases are relevant to curtailing the communicability of psychiatric disorders, thereby reducing their burden. Current interventions and policies that conceptualise psychiatric illnesses as non-communicable mostly focus on the individual. By applying strategies from infectious disease and chronic illness prevention models within a socioecological framework, we posit a broad communicable chronic disease psychiatric illness control plan for effectively treating the patient with the psychiatric disorder (host) as early as possible, providing benefits to their family and the community, and preventing transmission to others.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of interests

MAO receives royalties for the commercial use of the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale. MAO’s family owns stock in Bristol-Myers Squibb. All other authors declare no competing interests.

Figures

Figure:
Figure:
Communicable chronic disease psychiatric illness control plan
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Comment in

References

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