Ronny Bruffaerts
Biographic Data
| ID | 3453285 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Ronny Bruffaerts |
| GIVEN NAMES | Ronny |
| FAMILY NAME | Bruffaerts |
| SIGNATURE | BRUFFAERTS R |
| AFFILIATIONS | KU Leuven |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0330-3694 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 38 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 7 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 38 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2007 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 2 |
Patterns and predictors of the transition between minimally adequate treatment and effective treatment coverage for mental disorders
BACKGROUND: The quality of mental disorder treatment varies widely, with many patients not receiving treatments based on evidence-based guidelines. We examine data from the World Mental Health (WMH) surveys to investigate prevalence and correlates of receiving effective treatment coverage (ETC) among patients receiving minimally adequate treatment (MAT) in the 12 months before interview. METHODS: Data come from 25 WMH surveys carried out in 21 co…
Research Review
Associations Between Forced Intercourse and Subsequent Depression Among Women in the U.S. General Population
Age of onset and cumulative risk of mental disorders
BACKGROUND: Information on the frequency and timing of mental disorder onsets across the lifespan is of fundamental importance for public health planning. Broad, cross-national estimates of this information from coordinated general population surveys were last updated in 2007. We aimed to provide updated and improved estimates of age-of-onset distributions, lifetime prevalence, and morbid risk. METHODS: In this cross-national analysis, we analyse…
Dual burden of chronic physical conditions and mental disorders
Introduction: Comorbidities of mental disorders and chronic physical conditions are a common medical burden reported among Western countries. National estimates of such comorbidities among the general population of Arab countries like Saudi Arabia are unknown. This study examined the prevalence of lifetime chronic physical conditions among the Saudi general population with DSM-IV 12-month mental disorders, and the associations with disability in …
Student mental health
Attending university can be stressful and involve significant lifestyle changes: adjusting to the demands of a new learning environment, interacting with a diverse range of new people and environments, and (coping with) being away from trusted support networks. Although sixty per cent of students navigate higher education without emotional problems, forty per cent experience mental health issues, and approximately one in five struggles with menta…
The Associations of Common Psychological Problems With Mental Disorders Among College Students
Psychological problems like procrastination, perfectionism, low self-esteem, test anxiety and stress are common among college students. There are evidence-based interventions available for these problems that not only have direct effects on these problems, but also indirect effects on mental disorders such as depression and anxiety disorders. Targeting these psychological problems may offer new opportunities to prevent and treat mental disorders …
Mental health and academic failure among first-year university students in South Africa
Universities in South Africa face ongoing challenges with low rates of academic attainment and high rates of attrition. Our aims were to (1) investigate the extent to which common mental disorders evaluated early in the first year predict academic failure at the end of the year, controlling for sociodemographic factors and (2) establish the potential reduction in prevalence of failure that could be achieved by effectively treating associated ment…
Sources of Stress and Their Associations With Mental Disorders Among College Students
The college years are stressful for many students. Identifying the sources of stress and their relative importance in leading to clinically significant emotional problems may assist in the development of targeted stress management interventions. The current report examines the distribution and associations of perceived stress across major life areas with 12-month prevalence of common mental disorders in a cross-national sample of first-year colle…
Fluctuations in Affective States and Self-Efficacy to Resist Non-Suicidal Self-Injury as Real-Time Predictors of Non-Suicidal Self-Injurious Thoughts and Behaviors
This study provides preliminary evidence that affective fluctuations may uniquely predict NSSI thoughts but not NSSI behaviors, and point to the role of personal belief in the ability to resist NSSI in preventing NSSI behavior. These findings illustrate the need to differentiate between the development of NSSI thoughts and the progression from NSSI thoughts to behavior, as these are likely distinct processes, with different predictors
Internet interventions for mental health in university students
Barriers of mental health treatment utilization among first‐year college students
Prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of common mental disorders among first-year university students in post-apartheid South Africa
Despite advances to promote greater social inclusion in post-apartheid SA, students who identify as female, students with atypical sexual orientations, and students with disabilities are nonetheless at increased risk of CMDs, although students who identify as Black and first-generation students are not
The epidemiology of drug use disorders cross-nationally
Epidemiology of non-fatal suicidal behavior among first-year university students in South Africa
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher's website.We used a cross-sectional web-based survey and discrete-time survival analysis with person-year as unit of analysis and retrospective age-of-onset reports to estimate prevalence and predictors of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt, and transitions from ideation to plan and attempt among South African university students ( n = 1402). The lifetime prevalence of ideation…
The associations between non-suicidal self-injury and first onset suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Socio-economic variations in the mental health treatment gap for people with anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders
Background The treatment gap between the number of people with mental disorders and the number treated represents a major public health challenge. We examine this gap by socio-economic status (SES; indicated by family income and respondent education) and service sector in a cross-national analysis of community epidemiological survey data. Methods Data come from 16 753 respondents with 12-month DSM-IV disorders from community surveys in 25 countri…
Mental health problems in college freshmen
Treatment gap for anxiety disorders is global
BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are a major cause of burden of disease. Treatment gaps have been described, but a worldwide evaluation is lacking. We estimated, among individuals with a 12-month DSM-IV (where DSM is Diagnostic Statistical Manual) anxiety disorder in 21 countries, the proportion who (i) perceived a need for treatment; (ii) received any treatment; and (iii) received possibly adequate treatment. METHODS: Data from 23 community surveys…
WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project
Increasingly, colleges across the world are contending with rising rates of mental disorders, and in many cases, the demand for services on campus far exceeds the available resources.The present study reports initial results from the first stage of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student project, in which a series of surveys in 19 colleges across 8 countries (Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Northern Ireland, South Africa, S…
The cross-national epidemiology of social anxiety disorder
BACKGROUND: There is evidence that social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and disabling disorder. However, most of the available data on the epidemiology of this condition originate from high income countries in the West. The World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative provides an opportunity to investigate the prevalence, course, impairment, socio-demographic correlates, comorbidity, and treatment of this condition across a range of high, …
Undertreatment of people with major depressive disorder in 21 countries
BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. AIMS: To examine the: (a) 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV MDD; (b) proportion aware that they have a problem needing treatment and who want care; (c) proportion of the latter receiving treatment; and (d) proportion of such treatment meeting minimal standards. METHOD: Representative community household surveys from 21 countries as part of the World Health Organiz…
Mental disorders among college students in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys
Background Although mental disorders are significant predictors of educational attainment throughout the entire educational career, most research on mental disorders among students has focused on the primary and secondary school years. Method The World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys were used to examine the associations of mental disorders with college entry and attrition by comparing college students ( n = 1572) and non-students…
Association of Mental Disorders With Subsequent Chronic Physical Conditions
These findings suggest that mental disorders of all kinds are associated with an increased risk of onset of a wide range of chronic physical conditions. Current efforts to improve the physical health of individuals with mental disorders may be too narrowly focused on the small group with the most severe mental disorders. Interventions aimed at the primary prevention of chronic physical diseases should optimally be integrated into treatment of all…
The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide
Background Considerable research has documented that exposure to traumatic events has negative effects on physical and mental health. Much less research has examined the predictors of traumatic event exposure. Increased understanding of risk factors for exposure to traumatic events could be of considerable value in targeting preventive interventions and anticipating service needs. Method General population surveys in 24 countries with a combined …
Reflections of Older Adults on the Process Preceding Their Suicide Attempt
The study explores the reflections of older adults on the process preceding their suicide attempt. Data were gathered using in-depth interviews with eight older inpatients who had attempted suicide. Grounded theory methodology was used for data analysis. They described their life and the self as disrupted after experiencing a loss, loneliness, loss of control, and unwillingness to continue living the current life. The findings suggest that the co…
Mental health and academic failure among first-year university students in South Africa
Universities in South Africa face ongoing challenges with low rates of academic attainment and high rates of attrition. Our aims were to (1) investigate the extent to which common mental disorders evaluated early in the first year predict academic failure at the end of the year, controlling for sociodemographic factors and (2) establish the potential reduction in prevalence of failure that could be achieved by effectively treating associated ment…
Epidemiology of non-fatal suicidal behavior among first-year university students in South Africa
Supplemental data for this article can be accessed on the publisher's website.We used a cross-sectional web-based survey and discrete-time survival analysis with person-year as unit of analysis and retrospective age-of-onset reports to estimate prevalence and predictors of suicidal ideation, plan, and attempt, and transitions from ideation to plan and attempt among South African university students ( n = 1402). The lifetime prevalence of ideation…
Use of mental health services for anxiety, mood, and substance disorders in 17 countries in the WHO world mental health surveys
Toward a Global View of Alcohol, Tobacco, Cannabis, and Cocaine Use
BACKGROUND: Alcohol, tobacco, and illegal drug use cause considerable morbidity and mortality, but good cross-national epidemiological data are limited. This paper describes such data from the first 17 countries participating in the World Health Organization's (WHO's) World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative. METHODS AND FINDINGS: Household surveys with a combined sample size of 85,052 were carried out in the Americas (Colombia, Mexico, United…
Cross-national prevalence and risk factors for suicidal ideation, plans and attempts
BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide; however, the prevalence and risk factors for the immediate precursors to suicide - suicidal ideation, plans and attempts - are not wellknown, especially in low- and middle-income countries. AIMS: To report on the prevalence and risk factors for suicidal behaviours across 17 countries. METHOD: A total of 84 850 adults were interviewed regarding suicidal behaviours and socio-demographic and…
Childhood Adversity, Early-Onset Depressive/Anxiety Disorders, and Adult-Onset Asthma
OBJECTIVES: To investigate a) whether childhood adversity predicts adult-onset asthma; b) whether early-onset depressive/anxiety disorders predict adult-onset asthma; and c) whether childhood adversity and early-onset depressive/anxiety disorders predict adult-onset asthma independently of each other. Previous research has suggested, but not established, that childhood adversity may predict adult-onset asthma and, moreover, that the association b…
Cross-National Analysis of the Associations among Mental Disorders and Suicidal Behavior
BACKGROUND: Suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide. Mental disorders are among the strongest predictors of suicide; however, little is known about which disorders are uniquely predictive of suicidal behavior, the extent to which disorders predict suicide attempts beyond their association with suicidal thoughts, and whether these associations are similar across developed and developing countries. This study was designed to test each of thes…
Religious advisors’ role in mental health care in the European Study of the Epidemiology of Mental Disorders survey
Smoking estimates from around the world
The World Mental Health Surveys estimates complement existing global tobacco monitoring efforts. The observed global diversity of associations with smoking and smoking cessation underscore reasons for implementation of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control provisions and prompt local adaptation of prevention and control interventions
Twelve-Month Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Suicide Attempts in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys
OBJECTIVE: Although suicide is a leading cause of death worldwide, clinicians and researchers lack a data-driven method to assess the risk of suicide attempts. This study reports the results of an analysis of a large cross-national epidemiologic survey database that estimates the 12-month prevalence of suicidal behaviors, identifies risk factors for suicide attempts, and combines these factors to create a risk index for 12-month suicide attempts …
Chronic Physical Conditions and Their Association With First Onset of Suicidal Behavior in the World Mental Health Surveys
OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of a range of temporally prior physical conditions with the subsequent first onset of suicidal ideation, plans, and attempts in large, general population, cross-national sample. The associations between physical conditions and suicidal behavior remain unclear due to sparse data and varied methodology. METHODS: Predictive associations between 13 temporally prior physical conditions and first onset of suici…
The Prevalence and Correlates of Binge Eating Disorder in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys
Barriers to mental health treatment
Background To examine barriers to initiation and continuation of mental health treatment among individuals with common mental disorders. Method Data were from the World Health Organization (WHO) World Mental Health (WMH) surveys. Representative household samples were interviewed face to face in 24 countries. Reasons to initiate and continue treatment were examined in a subsample ( n = 636 78) and analyzed at different levels of clinical severity.…
Reflections of Older Adults on the Process Preceding Their Suicide Attempt
The study explores the reflections of older adults on the process preceding their suicide attempt. Data were gathered using in-depth interviews with eight older inpatients who had attempted suicide. Grounded theory methodology was used for data analysis. They described their life and the self as disrupted after experiencing a loss, loneliness, loss of control, and unwillingness to continue living the current life. The findings suggest that the co…
Psychotic Experiences in the General Population
The epidemiologic features of PEs are more nuanced than previously thought. Research is needed that focuses on similarities and differences in the predictors of the onset, course, and consequences of distinct PEs.
Mental disorders among college students in the World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys
Background Although mental disorders are significant predictors of educational attainment throughout the entire educational career, most research on mental disorders among students has focused on the primary and secondary school years. Method The World Health Organization World Mental Health Surveys were used to examine the associations of mental disorders with college entry and attrition by comparing college students ( n = 1572) and non-students…
Association of Mental Disorders With Subsequent Chronic Physical Conditions
These findings suggest that mental disorders of all kinds are associated with an increased risk of onset of a wide range of chronic physical conditions. Current efforts to improve the physical health of individuals with mental disorders may be too narrowly focused on the small group with the most severe mental disorders. Interventions aimed at the primary prevention of chronic physical diseases should optimally be integrated into treatment of all…
The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide
Background Considerable research has documented that exposure to traumatic events has negative effects on physical and mental health. Much less research has examined the predictors of traumatic event exposure. Increased understanding of risk factors for exposure to traumatic events could be of considerable value in targeting preventive interventions and anticipating service needs. Method General population surveys in 24 countries with a combined …
The cross-national epidemiology of social anxiety disorder
BACKGROUND: There is evidence that social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a prevalent and disabling disorder. However, most of the available data on the epidemiology of this condition originate from high income countries in the West. The World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative provides an opportunity to investigate the prevalence, course, impairment, socio-demographic correlates, comorbidity, and treatment of this condition across a range of high, …
Undertreatment of people with major depressive disorder in 21 countries
BACKGROUND: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of disability worldwide. AIMS: To examine the: (a) 12-month prevalence of DSM-IV MDD; (b) proportion aware that they have a problem needing treatment and who want care; (c) proportion of the latter receiving treatment; and (d) proportion of such treatment meeting minimal standards. METHOD: Representative community household surveys from 21 countries as part of the World Health Organiz…
The associations between non-suicidal self-injury and first onset suicidal thoughts and behaviors
Socio-economic variations in the mental health treatment gap for people with anxiety, mood, and substance use disorders
Background The treatment gap between the number of people with mental disorders and the number treated represents a major public health challenge. We examine this gap by socio-economic status (SES; indicated by family income and respondent education) and service sector in a cross-national analysis of community epidemiological survey data. Methods Data come from 16 753 respondents with 12-month DSM-IV disorders from community surveys in 25 countri…
Mental health problems in college freshmen
Treatment gap for anxiety disorders is global
BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are a major cause of burden of disease. Treatment gaps have been described, but a worldwide evaluation is lacking. We estimated, among individuals with a 12-month DSM-IV (where DSM is Diagnostic Statistical Manual) anxiety disorder in 21 countries, the proportion who (i) perceived a need for treatment; (ii) received any treatment; and (iii) received possibly adequate treatment. METHODS: Data from 23 community surveys…
WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project
Increasingly, colleges across the world are contending with rising rates of mental disorders, and in many cases, the demand for services on campus far exceeds the available resources.The present study reports initial results from the first stage of the WHO World Mental Health International College Student project, in which a series of surveys in 19 colleges across 8 countries (Australia, Belgium, Germany, Mexico, Northern Ireland, South Africa, S…
Internet interventions for mental health in university students
Barriers of mental health treatment utilization among first‐year college students
Medicine (33 works) · Psychiatry (33 works) · Mental health (28 works) · Psychology (27 works) · Mental Health Treatment and Access (25 works) · Clinical Psychology (18 works) · Environmental health (17 works) · Population (13 works) · Anxiety (12 works) · Child and Adolescent Psychosocial and Emotional Development (11 works)