Past Issues

Epidemiology is generally defi ned as quantitative
study of the patterns and distribution, occurrence
(incidence and prevalence), determination
and prevention of illness. Classic epidemiologic
research designs and methods developed to study
epidemics and chronic diseases are increasingly
being used in the investigation of psychiatric illnesses
and their interaction between men and their
environment. In recent years, psychiatric epidemiology
has also been applied to the assessment of
the benefi ts and risks of new psychopharmacological
products [1] as well as employing the new
technology in molecular and genetic study in the
investigation of various distinctive psychiatric illnesses
(genetic epidemiology). Despite the progress,
the main value of psychiatric epidemiology
remains, in ensuring the effective deployment of
services available for treatment and prevention of
psychiatric illness as well as the promotion of
mental health. To date, however, there is no establishment
of an academic organization of this discipline
in Taiwan, and on the eve of the world congress
of International Federation of Psychiatric
Association to be held in Taiwan in 2011, it is the
right time to consider forming such a society.