Despite the fact that many epidemiologic studies on neuropsychiatric diseases are conducted in the developed world, mental health represents a major problem globally. Of the 188 countries examined in the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013, depression was in the top 10 causes of DALYs for 130 countries (69%).1 These figures are worrisome given that outside of the western world, additional factors further complicate patient care. For example, psychiatrists and persons trained to treat mental illness are exceptionally scarce in many poor countries.7 It is estimated that 75% of mental health patients in low-income countries do not have access to care.8 Moreover, social and cultural factors lead to a stigma surrounding mental disorders, which deters patients from seeking appropriate treatment.9 Taken together, this grim picture highlights the tremendous need for an in-depth understanding of and effective treatments for mental disorders. It also raises the important question: Where does research on neuropsychiatric illness currently stand?
