This is Robert Cohen with the VOA Special English DevelopmentReport.

A study has found that most people with severe mental healthproblems go untreated in developing countries. The World HealthOrganization says between seventy-five and eighty-five percent hadno treatment within the past year. In developed nations, betweenthirty-five and fifty percent went untreated.

The Journal of the American Medical Association published thefindings. Ronald Kessler of Harvard University and Bedirhan Ustun ofthe W.H.O. led the study. They examined the results of questionsasked of more than sixty-thousand adults in fourteen countries.

The most developed nations were Belgium, France, Germany, Italy,Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and the United States. The lessdeveloped ones were Columbia, China, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria andUkraine. Researchers gathered the information betweentwo-thousand-one and two-thousand-three. They asked the samequestions in every interview. They wanted to estimate how manypeople have mental disorders, and what kind. They also wanted tolearn what treatment, if any, the people had received within thepast year.

The problems considered included nervous anxiety and uncontrolledanger. Others were such things as eating disorders and disordersrelated to the use of alcohol and illegal drugs.

The percentage of people who said they had a mental disorderdiffered greatly from country to country. The researchers found thatfor most countries the rate was between nine and twenty percent. TheUnited States had the highest, at twenty-six percent of thosequestioned. The Chinese city of Shanghai had the lowest, at fourpercent.

The researchers say they believe this difference shows how mentalhealth is seen differently around the world. They say people in manynon-Western countries are often less likely to admit they haveproblems.

In almost every country, the more severe a problem was, the morelikely it was to be treated. Still, the researchers say many peoplewith minor mental health problems are treated, while many withserious disorders are not. They say this is not simply a problem oflimited treatment resources. It also shows that resources are notbeing used well.

The researchers call for new efforts at early intervention. Theysay early treatment of minor disorders could prevent many seriouscases later. This VOA Special English Development Report was writtenby Jill Moss.

This is Robert Cohen.