Abstract
The second Singapore Mental Health Study (SMHS) - a nationwide, cross-sectional, epidemiological survey - was initiated in 2016 with the intent of tracking the state of mental health of the general population in Singapore. The study employed the same methodology as the first survey initiated in 2010. The SMHS 2016 aimed to (i) establish the 12-month and lifetime prevalence and correlates of major depressive disorder (MDD), dysthymia, bipolar disorder, generalised anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) (which included alcohol abuse and dependence) and (ii) compare the prevalence of these disorders with reference to data from the SMHS 2010. Door-to-door household surveys were conducted with adult Singapore residents aged 18 years and above from 2016 to 2018 (n = 6126) which yielded a response rate of 69.0%. The subjects were randomly selected using a disproportionate stratified sampling method and assessed using World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview version 3.0 (WHO-CIDI 3.0). The diagnoses of lifetime and 12-month selected mental disorders including MDD, dysthymia, bipolar disorder, GAD, OCD, and AUD (alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence), were based on the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) criteria. The lifetime prevalence of at least one mood, anxiety or alcohol use disorder was 13.9% in the adult population. MDD had the highest lifetime prevalence (6.3%) followed by alcohol abuse (4.1%). The 12-month prevalence of any DSM-IV mental disorders was 6.5%. OCD had the highest 12-month prevalence (2.9%) followed by MDD (2.3%). Lifetime and 12-month prevalence of mental disorders assessed in SMHS 2016 (13.8% and 6.4%) was significantly higher than that in SMHS 2010 (12.0% and 4.4%). A significant increase was observed in the prevalence of lifetime GAD (0.9% to 1.6%) and alcohol abuse (3.1% to 4.1%). The 12-month prevalence of GAD (0.8% vs. 0.4%) and OCD (2.9% vs. 1.1%) was significantly higher in SMHS 2016 as compared to SMHS 2010. The high prevalence of OCD and the increase across the two surveys needs to be tackled at a population level both in terms of creating awareness of the disorder and the need for early treatment. Youth emerge as a vulnerable group who are more likely to be associated with mental disorders and thus targeted interventions in this group with a focus on youth friendly and accessible care centres may lead to earlier detection and treatment of mental disorders.
Highlights
Ishikawa et al (2018) found that the 12-month prevalence of mood and substance use disorders were slightly higher in the second World Mental Health Japan Survey conducted in 2013–2015) (WMHJ2) as compared to the first World Mental Health Japan Survey conducted in 2002– 2006 (WMHJ1) while the prevalence of generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) and post-traumatic stress disorder were significantly lower in the WMHJ2 as compared to WMHJ1. These results suggest that prevalence of mental disorders changes across time and that these changes may be specific to countries/regions
This study is the second, national mental health survey using a similar methodology as the previous national study to assess and compare the prevalence of mental disorders in Singapore based on a representative sample of community residents
The present study showed that mental disorders are prevalent in Singapore with 1 in 7 people in the population having a lifetime mood, anxiety or alcohol use disorder (AUD)
Summary
According to a recent WHO report, the proportion of the global population with depression in 2015 was estimated to be 4.4% while those with anxiety disorders was 3.6%. The total estimated number of people living with depressive and anxiety disorders had increased from 2005 to 2015, which is attributable to the overall growth of the global population, ageing, as well as a proportionate increase in the age groups at which depression is more prevalent (WHO, 2017). The first Singapore Mental Health Study was initiated in 2010 (Subramaniam et al, 2012a) (hereafter referred to as SMHS 2010).
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