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Table 1 Criteria for identifying priority risk factors from risk factor literature

From: Preventing mental illness: closing the evidence-practice gap through workforce and services planning

 

Description

Entry criteria

 

â–ª Modifiability

The risk factor is, at least in theory, modifiable

Other necessary criteria

 

â–ª The relationship between the risk factor and adult mental illness is causal

Established mechanism of action: There are clear mechanisms by which the risk factor influences outcomes (e.g. established biological pathways)

Temporality: The risk or protective factor precedes the outcome.

Dose–response: Poorer mental illness outcomes associated with increased exposure to risk factor

â–ª Size of effect

Strength and Consistency: Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies have demonstrated that the risk or protective factor is a strong and consistent predictor of adult mental illness outcomes.

Prevalence of risk factor: the more common the risk factor the greater will be its contribution to incidence and burden (all else equal)

Multifinality: The risk factor features in the aetiology of multiple mental illness outcomes (e.g. different disorders) and therefore its modification may influence multiple outcomes.

Health inequalities: the risk factor is found to be unjustly distributed in certain population groups.

â–ª Identifiability

The risk factor can be identified in the population through screening and surveillance.

Desirable criteria

 

â–ª Intervention opportunities

Evidence base for interventions: There are efficacious, effective and/or cost-effective interventions that modify the risk factor.

Clustering: The risk factor clusters with other known risk factors for the outcome, suggesting interventions may be able to target multiple risk factors at the same time.