Perceptions of Diseases of Despair by Members of Rural and Urban High-Prevalence Communities: A Qualitative Study

View Resource

Reports on a study of community perceptions of despair-related illnesses based on 4 focus groups of 60 patients from 1 urban and 2 rural census blocks in central Pennsylvania where diseases of despair (DoD) are prevalent. Discusses perceived causes of DoD, such as economic instability, substance misuse, and fragmented family life; and intervention strategies at the community, local, and state level.

Daniel R. George, Bethany Snyder, Lauren J. Van Scoy, et al.

JAMA Network Open, 4(7), e2118134

07/2021

Behavioral health · Economics and the economy · Health disparities · Infrastructure · Mental health · Mental health conditions · Rural-urban differences · Substance use and misuse · Pennsylvania