Resumo

SANCHEZ DIAZ, Natalia. Introduction to Health and Disability Indicators.. rev.colomb.psiquiatr. [online]. 2005, vol.34, n.2, pp. 298-304. ISSN 0034-7450.

The purpose of developing indicators that reveal population status, is to get closer to real health problems that can be modified through health policies and measured periodically. This review presents an introduction to some epidemiological indicators, focusing on DALYs (disability adjusted life years). This indicator has acquired relevance in the psychiatric field, predicting that major depression will become the second most important disability producing disease.

Palavras-chave : epidemiological indicators; DALYs; disability evaluation.