Comparative study on mental health status of 10 113 military personnel and the norms of China

Abstract

Objective To analyze the mental health status of 10 113 military personnel of China in 2011 and the changes of the mental health of military personnel. Methods Symptom check list-90(SCL-90) was used to assess 10 113 military personnel of China. The result was compared with the army norm and civilian norm in the past over ten years. Results ①Except somatization, other items of SCL-90 of 10 113 military personnel was generally lower than that of civilian norm and army norm. Sensitive human interrelationship was the highest item in 1986 civilian norm, 1999 army norm and 2000 army norm. Obsessive-compulsive disorder became the highest item in 2005 army norm, 2006 civilian norm and 2011 armymen. ②16.88% military personnel have various mental health problems, which includes sensitive human interrelationship, somatization disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, depression, phobia and anxiety. ③The proportion of positive item including somatization disorder, sensitive human interrelationship, anxiety, phobia and lunacy were significantly higher in 2011 compared with 2005 army norm(P 0.05). While other items were lower(P<0.01). Conclusion The military personnel’s mental health is becoming fine in the past over ten years, but the proportion of positive item including somatization, sensitive human interrelationship, anxiety, phobia and lunacy were still high. Key words: Mental health; Military personnel; Symptom checklist-90; Norm