Risk Factors Leading to Mental Illness among Patients: A Retrospective Study

Abstract

Background: Mental disorder is a psychological factor reflected in the behavior, which affect the normal development of a person’s culture. The burden of mental health problems is increasing globally. Most mental disorders are result of a combination of several different factors rather than just a single factor. Knowing the risk factors leading to mental illness, may help in future to reduce the incidences of mental illness by taking possible preventive measures. Aim: The main aim of this study was to determine the risk factors leading to mental illness among patients. Materials and Method: Case control study design with quantitative non experimental descriptive survey approach was used .Mini mental status examination tool was used to select 100 psychiatric patients based on inclusion criteria and 100 general populations to find the odds ratio. Data was collected using a demographic proforma and risk factors assessment check list. Results: In biological, socioeconomic, environmental, psychological and personal factors, the highest value of the odds ratio of risk factors for mental illness is sleep disturbance (16.385), financial problems (3.149), slum area (3.162), feeling of loneliness (13.821) and chronic smoking (16.116) respectively; it is higher among patient with mental illness compared to the general population. Conclusion: Most of the subjects are having one or other risk factors for developing mental illness. Hence we need to take care about risk factors and maintain good lifestyle to promote optimal mental health.