Introduction: Focus on Transcultural Issues in Depression and Anxiety

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The seventh meeting of the International Consensus Group on Depression and Anxiety, held in Kyoto, Japan, in October 2000, took as its theme transcultural differences in depression and anxiety. While depressive and anxiety disorders exist in all countries and cultures, epidemiologic studies have shown significant variation in the prevalence of these disorders between countries. Differing levels of awareness and recognition of psychiatric disorders due to cultural issues may be important contributing factors to this variation, as is the methodological variation in the conduct of epidemiologic studies.