Editor Interviews: 6 Questions on the Status of Chinese Mental Health

From Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology

Special Issue: Geriatric Psychiatry and Neurology in China

The journal brings together original research, clinical reviews, and timely case reports on neuropsychiatric care for elderly patients, including age-related biological, neurological, and mental health issues, legal issues, and home care. The journal provides treatments for cognitive, emotional, anxiety, addiction, and sleep disorders in older patients.

Editor interview

Q1 In China, mental health has been neglected. How do you think you can awaken everyone's attention to this issue?

Guest Editor Professor Yutao Xiang:  Like most developing countries, due to historical and economic reasons, the development of mental health services in China, especially in rural areas, has lagged behind other medical disciplines. Professor Ran Maosheng's team from the University of Hong Kong introduced the results of their research in rural areas of Chengdu, Sichuan Province in this special issue, and found that compared with young patients, the rate of consultation of elderly patients with severe mental disorders in China is very low, and only more than half of the patients received Healed. They also reported on factors related to the untreated rate of elderly patients, including advanced age and long course of disease. The above results can effectively allocate health resources, provide better mental health services, and provide important data reference materials for local health management departments.

How is mental health problem in China different from other countries? What do you think is the cause?

Guest Editor Professor Xiangtao Tao:  Compared with developed countries, China's mental health service system has serious shortages of resources and its distribution is extremely unreasonable. At present, the proportion of psychiatrists and psychiatric beds per capita in China is significantly lower than in western developed countries, and the existing mental health resources are mainly distributed in cities, and in rural areas, they are even more insufficient. Mainly due to the long-term weak economic foundation and insufficient attention to mental health. In recent years, with the rapid economic development and people's emphasis on mental health work, the quality of mental health services in China is rapidly improving.

Many researchers have studied the epidemiological status of mental health in China. What is the purpose?

Guest Editor Professor Yutao Xiang:  Mental health epidemiological surveys can provide government and health management departments with a more reasonable allocation of existing health resources, formulate sound mental health policies and provide better mental health services, providing a reliable first Hand information and basis.

Suicide rates in rural China remain high, even though the government has taken some measures to prevent this from happening. What do you think the suicide family and the public can do to prevent suicide?

Guest Editor Professor Xiangtao Tao:  In addition to pesticides, the risk factors for suicide in rural China include the combination of depression and physical illness, social support and poor economic conditions. In order to reduce the risk of suicide, targeted measures can be taken, such as regular screening for depression and severe physical illness, and timely treatment after detection. Provide necessary social support and financial assistance to those in need, etc. For families with family members who commit suicide, it is necessary to promptly guide and follow up regularly. If other family members are found to be depressed or have symptoms related to suicide, such as suicidal ideas, suicide attempts, etc., immediate intervention is required. In addition, the suicide prevention hotline is an effective measure. Through the above measures, the risk of suicide can be effectively reduced.

Mild cognitive impairment is prevalent in the elderly and is often mixed with other symptoms caused by other diseases such as depression and anxiety. How to distinguish between these diseases and how to identify the main cause of the symptoms? What are the benefits of doing so? Are there any potential therapies being tested for these diseases?

Guest editor Professor Xiangtao Tao:  Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in the elderly is sometimes easily confused with secondary cognitive impairment caused by depression and anxiety. The two can be judged from the following aspects. First of all, secondary cognitive impairment caused by depression and anxiety is often preceded by depression and anxiety, and then cognitive decline occurs. In the elderly, mild cognitive impairment is usually without depression and anxiety before cognitive impairment occurs. Second, secondary cognitive impairment caused by depression and anxiety often decreases or disappears with the relief of depression and anxiety after treatment. Mild cognitive impairment in the elderly is usually ineffective for antidepressant and anxiety treatments.

Is there a new method to accelerate the recovery of neurological damage caused by thrombolysis and thrombectomy in patients with stroke?

Guest Editor Professor Yutao Xiang:  There is no effective treatment for the neurological damage that remains after thrombolysis or thrombectomy in stroke patients. The traditional method of rehabilitation is mainly physical therapy and acupuncture.