Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #106364

Dennis Espejo, BS¹, Alisa K. Lincoln, PhD, MPH¹, Terri Webber, MPH¹, and Peggy Johnson, MD². (1) Social and Behavioral Sciences Department, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St., T2W, Boston, MA 02118, (617) 414-1379, despejo@bu.edu, (2) Department of Psychiatry, Boston University School of Medicine, 85 East Newton Street, Suite 802, Boston, MA 02118

Currently, there is little research exploring the relationship between low literacy and mental illness despite the fact that both are prevalent problems in the United States and have tremendous consequences to the individual and society. This study was designed to explore the relationship between literacy levels, level of formal education, mental health symptoms and diagnoses. We present the results of 100 interviews and chart reviews conducted in an urban, safety-net, behavioral health outpatient clinic. Data include: demographic and socioeconomic information, the Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine (REALM) and the RAVENS Progressive Matrices and the WAIS Similarities to assess the patient's cognitive status. We will examine the literacy level of patients receiving services at the Behavioral Health Outpatient Clinic and the relationships among sociodemographic, literacy, and psychiatric diagnoses as obtained from chart reviews. Preliminary REALM results (N=23) show that 8% of subjects read below a 3rd grade level and 39% of subjects at a 7-8th grade level. Increasing our understanding of the relationships between health literacy, education and psychiatric symptoms and disorders will help inform the development of more appropriate psychiatric care and better clinical outcomes for people seeking this care. Many people face the double burden and stigma of struggling with mental illness and with limited health literacy. We have much to learn about how best to help people with these struggles.

Learning Objectives:

• to assess the prevalence of literacy problems among people seeking outpatient mental health services at Boston Medical Center
• to examine the relationship between literacy level and psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses

Keywords: Literacy, Mental Illness

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.