Department of Health

Receiving Officer 09:24 AM, Aug 30, 2023

August 30, 2023

Dear Carla Reyes,

Greetings!

Thank you for your request dated Aug 29, 2023 11:25:06 PM under Executive Order No. 2 (s. 2016) on Freedom of Information in the Executive Branch.

Your Request

You asked for The statistics of people with schizophrenia in the philippines.

Response to Request

Your FOI request is approved. 

This is in response to your eFOI request for information on current data on Schizophrenia in the Philippines, to be used for a case study. We hope to address your request as best as possible. Please refer to the Mental Health Program posted in the DOH website at https://doh.gov.ph/national-mental-health-program for an overview of the services we provide and some materials we readily share.  Rest assured that the Mental Health Division looks into these conditions in compliance with RA11036, otherwise known as the Mental Health Act, which encompasses mental, neurological and substance use (MNS) disorders.

As for your request, regarding the statistics on Schizophrenia, here are our responses on the following:

Although we don't have the exact figures on Schizophrenia, (hospital data like electronic medical records are not yet consolidated), the WHO estimated that about 1 million Filipinos suffer from schizophrenia (2018). One of the major hurdles for mental health in the Philippines is the consolidation of hospital data in the country. Most mental health facilities would have records of Schizophrenia but we are yet to establish an interoperable Mental Health Information System (MHIS), to provide data on various mental health conditions including Schizophrenia. Some of our responses are based on estimates. Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study in 2017 estimates a population prevalence of 0.2% for schizophrenia.

You may also refer to the National Survey on Mental Health and Wellness (NSMHW), which is a population-based, cross-sectional, epidemiological study on the Filipino adult, child and adolescent population. Schizophrenia has been included under psychotic disorders. Since these are not diagnostic data, kindly take into account the limitations of the study. 

Among patients with schizophrenia, males have a greater risk of experiencing prominent negative symptoms, while females display more affective symptoms, including depression, impulsivity, emotional instability, sexual misconduct and sexual delusions. (Leger, M., & Neill, J. C. (2016). A systematic review comparing sex differences in cognitive function in schizophrenia and in rodent models for schizophrenia, implications for improved therapeutic strategies. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 68, 979-1000.) As for the factors, same as with any mental health condition, Schizophrenia may result in the interaction of various factors as suggested by The Biopsychosocial Model of Mental Health.

Kindly accomplish the FOI Request Feedback form at the link: https://bit.ly/DOHFOIFeedbackForm 

Thank you

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your FOI request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response by writing to the Central Appeals and Review Committee, at foi@doh.gov.ph. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made within 15 calendar days from the date when you received this letter. We will complete the review and tell you the result within 30 calendar days from the date when we receive your review request.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Office of the President under Administrative Order No. 22 (s. 2011).

Thank you.

Respectfully,

FOI Receiving Officer

Attachments:
 NSMHW  Report and Policy Recommendations  version 38_07012023 (2) (1).pdf
 Biopsychosocial-1024x604 (2).jpg