Lower Prevalence Of Mental Disorders Research Articles

Evaluating the association of vitamin D3, parathyroid hormone, and C-reactive protein serum levels in patients with an acute psychotic episode: a cross-sectional study in tertiary centre in Iran

BackgroundThe high impact of vitamin D on brain development and its relationship with inflammatory markers in the clinical course of psychiatric disorders have compelled researchers to investigate the potential association between vitamin D levels, C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, and the incidence of mental disorders. In the present study, we aimed to compare the serum levels of vitamin D and its related markers, including calcium, phosphorus, and parathyroid hormone (PTH), along with CRP, in 3 groups of patients with acute psychotic episodes, including schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and methamphetamine-induced psychosis, with a standard control group of the Iranian population.MethodsThis descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted at a psychiatric hospital in Tehran, Iran, and involved a total of 185 subjects. The subjects included four groups: acute phase of schizophrenia (n = 49), acute manic episodes of bipolar disorder (n = 43), methamphetamine-induced psychotic disorder (n = 46), and control group (n = 47). Among 138 patients in acute psychotic episodes, 33 patients were in their first episode of psychosis, while 105 patients were in acute exacerbation of their chronic psychotic disorders. The Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale (BPRS) was measured by an expert attending psychiatrist for all patients. Then, serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, parathormone, vitamin D, and CRP were assessed in all study groups.ResultsAmong our 185 study subjects, it was observed that individuals with higher education levels and those who were married had a lower prevalence of mental disorders. In all patient groups, the serum levels of CRP were significantly higher, and PTH levels were significantly lower than in the control group (p < 0.001). The serum levels of calcium, phosphorus, and vitamin D were not statistically significantly different between the patient and control groups of the study. In chronic psychotic patients, CRP levels were significantly higher (p < 0.031), and vitamin D levels were significantly lower (p < 0.044) compared to first-episode psychotic patients.ConclusionThis study suggests that CRP levels are significantly higher and PHT level is significantly lower in acute psychotic patients. Moreover, vitamin D levels were significantly lower in chronic psychotic patients compared to first-episode psychotic patients.

Tracking Population-Level Anxiety Using Search Engine Data: Ecological Study.

Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental disorders globally, with a substantial impact on quality of life. The prevalence of anxiety disorders has increased substantially following the COVID-19 pandemic, and it is likely to be further affected by a global economic recession. Understanding anxiety themes and how they change over time and across countries is crucial for preventive and treatment strategies. The aim of this study was to track the trends in anxiety themes between 2004 and 2020 in the 50 most populous countries with high volumes of internet search data. This study extends previous research by using a novel search-based methodology and including a longer time span and more countries at different income levels. We used a crowdsourced questionnaire, alongside Bing search query data and Google Trends search volume data, to identify themes associated with anxiety disorders across 50 countries from 2004 to 2020. We analyzed themes and their mutual interactions and investigated the associations between countries' socioeconomic attributes and anxiety themes using time-series linear models. This study was approved by the Microsoft Research Institutional Review Board. Query volume for anxiety themes was highly stable in countries from 2004 to 2019 (Spearman r=0.89) and moderately correlated with geography (r=0.49 in 2019). Anxiety themes were predominantly long-term and personal, with "having kids," "pregnancy," and "job" the most voluminous themes in most countries and years. In 2020, "COVID-19" became a dominant theme in 27 countries. Countries with a constant volume of anxiety themes over time had lower fragile state indexes (P=.007) and higher individualism (P=.003). An increase in the volume of the most searched anxiety themes was associated with a reduction in the volume of the remaining themes in 13 countries and an increase in 17 countries, and these 30 countries had a lower prevalence of mental disorders (P<.001) than the countries where no correlations were found. Internet search data could be a potential source for predicting the country-level prevalence of anxiety disorders, especially in understudied populations or when an in-person survey is not viable.

Associations between lifetime mental disorders and suicidal behaviors: findings from the Taiwan psychiatry morbidity survey.

East Asia has high suicide rates but low prevalence of mental disorders. We examined the associations between prior lifetime mental disorders (mood disorders, anxiety disorders, substance use disorders, and impulse control disorders) and subsequent suicidal behaviors (suicidal ideation and attempts in the general population and suicide plans, planned attempts, and unplanned attempts in suicidal ideators) in Taiwan. This survey applied the World Mental Health Survey Composite International Diagnostic Interview to a population representative sample of noninstitutionalized adults between 2003 and 2005. Odds ratios (ORs) obtained using discrete-time survival analysis were used to estimate population attributable fractions (PAFs) of suicidal behaviors due to lifetime mental disorders. Lifetime mental illness was a significant risk factor for subsequent suicidal behaviors (except unplanned attempts among ideators) despite the relatively low prevalence of mental disorders in people with suicidality (16.1%-35.0%). Each diagnosis increased the odds of suicidal ideation. In terms of acting on suicidal ideation, mood disorders were most strongly associated with having plans (OR = 10.0; 95% confidence interval, CI 4.3-21.1), whereas substance use disorders most strongly with either planned (OR = 27.3; 95% CI 6.3-118.5) or unplanned attempts (OR = 14.5; 95% CI 1.7-121.5). PAFs of all mental disorders on suicidality lay between 20 and 30% (except 11% of unplanned attempts among ideators). Mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders had higher PAFs than impulse control disorders. In addition to mood disorders, considering anxiety and substance use disorders is essential in devising population-based suicide prevention strategies.

A Gendered Analysis of Work, Stress and Mental Health, Among Professional and Non-Professional Workers

This study examines the differences in mental health experiences of workers in professional and non-professional roles, with a particular focus on the influence of gender. We examine: i) the perceived mental health of a subset of professional workers including accounting, academia, dentistry, medicine, nursing, and teaching, chosen because they represent different gender composition and sectors; and ii) work stress and work absences. Statistical analyses were applied to data from the Canadian Community Health Survey and a related Mental Health and Well-Being survey. Those in the selected professions reported better mental health, higher job satisfaction, and a lower prevalence of mental disorders, but higher self-perceived life and work stress compared to workers in non-professional roles. Workers in these professions reported higher job security and higher job control, but also higher psychological demands. Women in these professions showed significantly higher physical exertion and lower job authority and higher rates of work absences.

Resilience to mental disorders in a low-income, non-Westernized setting.

Cross-national studies have found, unexpectedly, that mental disorder prevalence is higher in high-income relative to low-income countries, but few rigorous studies have been conducted in very low-income countries. This study assessed mental disorders in Nepal, employing unique methodological features designed to maximize disorder detection and reporting. In 2016-2018, 10714 respondents aged 15-59 were interviewed as part of an ongoing panel study, with a response rate of 93%. The World Mental Health version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI 3.0) measured lifetime and 12-month prevalence of selected anxiety, mood, alcohol use, and impulse control disorders. Lifetime recall was enhanced using a life history calendar. Lifetime prevalence ranged from 0.3% (95% CI 0.2-0.4) for bipolar disorder to 15.1% (95% CI 14.4-15.7) for major depressive disorder. The 12-month prevalences were low, ranging from 0.2% for panic disorder (95% CI 0.1-0.3) and bipolar disorder (95% CI 0.1-0.2) to 2.7% for depression (95% CI 2.4-3.0). Lifetime disorders were higher among those with less education and in the low-caste ethnic group. Gender differences were pronounced. Although cultural effects on reporting cannot be ruled out, these low 12-month prevalences are consistent with reduced prevalence of mental disorders in other low-income countries. Identification of sociocultural factors that mediate the lower prevalence of mental disorders in low-income, non-Westernized settings may have implications for understanding disorder etiology and for clinical or policy interventions aimed at facilitating resilience.

Prevalence, treatment, and the correlates of common mental disorders in the mid 2010′s in Japan: The results of the world mental health Japan 2nd survey

BackgroundDespite numerous changes in the mental health care system in Japan in 2000's, little is known about changes in the prevalence or treatment rates of mental disorders. MethodsThe World Mental Health Japan (WMHJ) 2nd Survey was a nationally representative face-to-face household survey of residents aged 20–75 years old conducted between 2013 and 2015. We compared the findings with those of an earlier study, the first WMHJ (WMHJ1) survey, conducted in 2002–2006. ResultsOverall, 2450 residents completed the interview. Lifetime prevalence of any common mental disorder was 22%, with high prevalence of alcohol abuse (15.1%). Twelve-month prevalence rates of any common mental disorder and major depressive disorder were 5.2% and 2.7%, respectively. Severe cases comprised 24% of 12-month disorders. Lifetime prevalence of any common mental disorder was greater for males. The persistence of any common mental disorder was greater for females. Proportion of those with 12-month disorders who sought treatment was 34%. Mental health care use was the most prevalent among 12-month cases. Twelve-month prevalence of any common mental disorder was similar to that of the WMHJ1 while the proportion of seeking treatment increased for disorders with moderate severity. LimitationsInstitutionalized people were not included. The lower response rate might also limit the interpretation of the findings. ConclusionsThe study found lower prevalence of mental disorders in Japan than in Western countries in the mid 2010's, suggesting that the prevalence of mental disorders remained stable in the last decade in Japan. Treatment rate increased for those with moderate disorders, which might reflect the government's attempt to raise people's awareness of mental health.

Mental health of jail inmates within the prison of Ducos, Martinique – a cross-sectional descriptive study

BackgroundPrisoners’ sociocultural backgrounds and prison environments have an influence on detainees’ psychopathology; complex judicial and public policies are also to be taken into account in the dynamics of that environment. Scientific literature shows a wide range prison inmates’ profiles across the world. However, very little data about the mental health of Caribbean jail inmates has been published. Martinique is a French overseas administrative district in the Caribbean, with a population of about 400,000 inhabitants. Its only prison is located in the city of Ducos. Our study proposes a description of the psychiatric characteristics of jail inmates in Martinique with epidemiological tools. Its objectives are to highlight their specific features and compare them to mainland France's jail population. MethodsThe initial study was a multicenter cross-sectional survey conducted in 18 French prisons. The selection was done using a two-stage stratified sampling strategy. For the purpose of our study, two groups were defined and compared: the detainees from the prison of Ducos (n=100) were compared to inmates from mainland France (n=698). Current psychiatric diagnoses were rigorously collected, through clinical and semi-structured interviews. We conducted a multiple logistic regression for each assessed mental disorder. Each prisoner gave us his oral and written informed consent. ResultsIn terms of sociodemographic characteristics, we found more children per prisoner in the Martinican group and a better educational status in the mainland France group. The inmates from Martinique had significantly more adverse experiences in their childhood and the length of incarceration at the time of the interview was longer in the Martinique sample. Major depressive disorders (aOR=0.51; 95% CI=0.26–0.95) and psychotic disorders (aOR=0.24; 95% CI=0.08–0.57) were significantly less frequent in the Martinique sample. The data concerning substance-related disorders showed significant differences in bivariate analysis but this link was no longer statistically significant in the multiple logistic regression analysis. ConclusionEven if imprisonment conditions are extremely tough, the inmates carry the heavy burden of difficult family histories, and the use of cannabis seems to be a major problem, it appears that Martinique's jail inmates have lower rates of mental illness than their counterparts from mainland France. We think this could be due to the benefit of greater proximity to their relatives and a united community, both which may contribute to lower prevalence of mental disorders.

Impact of different approaches of primary care mental health on the prevalence of mental disorders.

Millions of people suffer from mental disorders. As entry point into the health service, primary healthcare plays an important role in providing mental health prevention and treatment. Random sample of households in three different areas of the city of Ribeirão Preto (state of São Paulo, Brazil) were selected, and 20 trained medical students conducted interviews using a mental health screening instrument, the Mini-Screening of Mental Disorders, and a socio-demographic datasheet. Primary care mental health was provided in each area through a specific approach. The influence of the area of residence and the socio-demographic variables on the prevalence of mental disorder was explored and analyzed by univariate binary logistic regression and then by a multiple logistic regression model.FindingsA total of 1545 subjects were interviewed. Comparison between the three areas showed a significantly higher number of people with mental disorders in the area covered by the primary care team that did not have physicians with specific primary care mental health training, even when this association was adjusted for the influence of age, education, and socio-economic status.Our results suggest that residing in areas with family physicians with mental health training is associated with a lower prevalence of mental disorders.

PREDICTING THE EMERGENCE OF PRECLINICAL MENTAL DISORDERS TO COMBATANTS

Nozologically formed borderline mental disorder (BMD) in combatants have a lower prevalence of mental disorders unlike a painful level. Blurred diagnostic criteria do not allow to attribute to the category of BMD the short-term outage of disturbance of mental adaptation - transient affective and behavioral reactions (TABR). In order to develop the expectancy model of TABR formation an analysis of personality characteristics of 649 combatants of the Interior Ministry have been carried out. Intermittent TABR in anamnesis revealed in 311 persons, such states and other violations of mental adaptation was not recorded in 338. Four years later, after the trip to zones with special service conditions, according to the I. Kotenev's method and Bass-Dark's test combatants revealed signs of maladjustment and high levels of physical aggression. Based on the data the TABR model has been designed using logistic regression and method of forced variables input. It was found that the risk of TABR formation increases with a decrease in the indicator "the invasion of the symptoms" scale and by increasing the parameters in the scale of "hyperactivity symptoms," "distress and maladjustment," "signs of post traumatic stress disorder" "physical aggression" and "verbal aggression". This shows that TABR more often appear in combatants with increased excitability in everyday life and a high level of physical aggression, while the symptoms of re-experiencing the traumatic event are not the triggering factor of TABR formation. This technique was proposed to use in medical and psychological support of personnel to prevent formation of TABR in combatants.

Geographical and temporal variations in the prevalence of mental disorders in suicide: Systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundIn contrast to the previous studies reporting that most suicides occur among people with mental disorders, recent studies have reported various rates of mental disorders in suicide in different geographical regions. We aimed to comprehensively investigate the factors influencing the variation in the prevalence of mental disorders reported among suicide victims. MethodThe authors searched Embase, Medline, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library to identify psychological autopsy studies reporting the prevalence of any mental disorders among suicide victims. A meta-regression analysis was conducted to identify the potential effects of geographical regions, the year of publication, measurements of personality disorder, measurements of comorbidity, and the ratio of females on the prevalence of mental disorders in addition to examining the heterogeneity across studies. ResultsFrom 4475 potentially relevant studies, 48 studies met eligibility criteria, with 6626 suicide victims. The studies from East Asia had a significantly lower mean prevalence (69.6% [95% CI=56.8 to 80.0]) than those in North America (88.2% [95% CI=79.7–93.5]) and South Asia (90.4% [95% CI=71.8–97.2]). The prevalence of any mental disorder decreased according to the year of publication (coefficients=−0.0715, p<0.001). LimitationsSubstantial heterogeneities were identified within all subgroup analyses. ConclusionsThe prevalence of mental disorders among suicide cases seemed relatively low in the East Asia region, and recently published studies tended to report a lower prevalence of mental disorders. The link between the risk factors and suicide in the absence of a mental disorder should be examined in different geographical and sociocultural contexts.

Mental disorders among health workers in Brazil.

The scope of this article is to deter mine the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD) and Depression among Community Health Agents (CHA) and employees of Psychosocial Care Centers (CAPS). It is a cross-sectional descriptive study involving the target population of Community Health Workers and Psychosocial Care Center workers, linked to the Municipal Health Department of Pelotas in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Sul. The presence of common mental disorders was considered when the Self Report Questionnaire (SRQ) was > 7 and the occurrence of depression when BDI > 12. In total, 257 professionals participated in the study. Among mental health professionals (n = 119), the prevalence of CMDs was 25.2% and depression was 23.5%, while the prevalence of CMDs was 48.6% and depression was 29% among CHA (n = 138). The ratio of CMDs between the two groups of professionals was statistically different (p < 0.001). In this study, it was observed that the CAPS professionals are more adapted to work issues, with less perceived health problems arising from work and with a lower prevalence of mental disorders compared to CHA.

Lifetime and 12-month prevalence, severity and unmet need for treatment of common mental disorders in Japan: results from the final dataset of World Mental Health Japan Survey.

The aim of this study is to estimate the lifetime and 12-month prevalence, severity and treatment of Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders fourth edition (DSM-IV) mental disorders in Japan based on the final data set of the World Mental Health Japan Survey conducted in 2002-2006. Face-to-face household interviews of 4130 respondents who were randomly selected from Japanese-speaking residents aged 20 years or older were conducted from 2002 to 2006 in 11 community populations in Japan (overall response rate, 56%). The World Mental Health version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI), a fully structured, lay administered psychiatric diagnostic interview, was used for diagnostic assessment. Lifetime/12-month prevalence of any DSM-IV common mental disorders in Japan was estimated to be 20.3/7.6%. Rank-order of four classes of mental disorders was anxiety disorders (8.1/4.9%), substance disorders (7.4/1.0%), mood disorders (6.5/2.3%) and impulse control disorders (2.0/0.7%). The most common individual disorders were alcohol abuse/dependence (7.3/0.9%), major depressive disorder (6.1/2.2%), specific phobia (3.4/2.3%) and generalized anxiety disorder (2.6/1.3%). While the lifetime prevalence of any mental disorder was greater for males and the middle-aged, the persistence (proportion of 12-month cases among lifetime cases) of any mental disorder was greater for females and younger respondents. Among those with any 12-month disorder, 15.3% were classified as severe, 44.1% moderate and 40.6% mild. Although a strong association between severity and service use was found, only 21.9% of respondents with any 12-month disorder sought treatment within the last 12 months; only 37.0% of severe cases received medical care. The mental health specialty sector was the most common resource used in Japan. Although the prevalence of mental disorders were quite low, mental disorders were the second most prevalent cause of severe role impairment among chronic physical and mental disorders. These results suggest lower prevalence of mental disorders in Japan than that in Western countries, although the general pattern of disorders, risk factors and unmet need for treatment were similar to those in other countries. Greater lifetime prevalence for males and greater persistence for females seems a unique feature of Japan, suggesting a cultural difference in gender-related etiology and course of disorders. The treatment rate in Japan was lower than that in most other high-income countries in WMH surveys.

A dimensional liability model of age differences in mental disorder prevalence: Evidence from a national sample

Recent theories have proposed a metastructure that organizes related mental disorders into broad dimensions of psychopathology (i.e., internalizing and externalizing dimensions). Prevalence rates of most mental disorders, when examined independently, are substantially lower in older than in younger adults, which may affect this metastructure. Within a nationally representative sample, the National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions (NESARC; N = 43,093), we developed a dimensional liability model of common psychiatric disorders to clarify whether aging affects specific disorders or general dimensions of psychopathology. Significant age differences existed across age groups (18–24, 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, 55–64, 65–75 and 75+), such that older adults showed lower prevalence rates of most disorders compared to younger adults. We next investigated patterns of disorder comorbidity for past-year psychiatric disorders and found that a distress-fear-externalizing liability model fit the data well. This model was age-group invariant and indicated that the observed lower prevalence of mental disorders with advancing age originates from lower average means on externalizing and internalizing liability dimensions. This unifying dimensional liability model of age and mental disorder comorbidity can help inform the role of aging on mental disorder prevalence for research and intervention efforts, and service planning for the impending crisis in geriatric mental health.

Army Learning Complex FactorsAssociated With Soldier Suicides

Army Learning Complex FactorsAssociated With Soldier Suicides

Investigating age-related differences in responses to screening items for internalising disorders in three national surveys

BackgroundEpidemiological studies typically report lower prevalence of mental disorders among older adults relative to middle-aged and young adults. A possible explanation is that age-related bias in the screening items of diagnostic instruments leads to older adults being differentially screened out of the full assessment. This study investigated potential age-related bias in screening items for internalising disorders in three epidemiological surveys. MethodMeasurement invariance was estimated for the internalising disorder screening items in the 2007 and 1997 Australian National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, and the 2001–2002 National Epidemiologic Survey on Alcohol and Related Conditions. These surveys assessed mental disorders using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) and the Alcohol Use Disorder and Associated Disabilities Interview Schedule–DSM-IV Version (AUDADIS-IV). A series of multi-group confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) were performed for each survey across older (65–85 years), middle (35–64 years) and young (16–34 years) adults. ResultsDifferences between successive CFA models for each survey were negligible, indicating measurement invariance across age groups for the CIDI and AUDADIS-IV screening items. LimitationsThe number of items and symptoms representing internalising pathology differed between surveys. The samples excluded people in aged-care institutions. ConclusionsWhile findings do not rule out that other measurement errors may be present (e.g., age-related bias in the remaining items), these results support the validity of the screening items in the CIDI and AUDADIS-IV. Low prevalence estimates of internalising disorders in older adults are unlikely attributable to differences in response patterns to screening items.

Trastornos mentales comunes y uso de servicios de salud en población inmigrante

Chile is receiving immigrant populations coming from other Latin-American countries.To determine the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) among immigrants who live in Independencia, a quarter in Santiago, Chile.A cross sectional study was carried out in the primary health care clinic and in the state-funded school of Independencia. A representative sample of 282 adults and 341 children were interviewed. Mental disorders were diagnosed using CIS-R and MINI structured interviews.The interviewed immigrants came mostly from Peru. The prevalence of mental disorders in the adult population was 17.8% and among children, it was 29.3%.The adult immigrants have a lower prevalence of mental disorders than the Chilean population but it increases among children. Barriers of access to health services, that should be solved, were detected.

Mental disorders among immigrants in Chile

Chile is receiving immigrant populations coming from other Latin-American countries. To determine the prevalence of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) among immigrants who live in Independencia, a quarter in Santiago, Chile. A cross sectional study was carried out in the primary health care clinic and in the state-funded school of Independencia. A representative sample of 282 adults and 341 children were interviewed. Mental disorders were diagnosed using CIS-R and MINI structured interviews. The interviewed immigrants came mostly from Peru. The prevalence of mental disorders in the adult population was 17.8% and among children, it was 29.3%. The adult immigrants have a lower prevalence of mental disorders than the Chilean population but it increases among children. Barriers of access to health services, that should be solved, were detected.

Prevalence of Mental Disorders and Suicidal Thoughts Among Community-Dwelling Elderly Adults 3 Years After the Niigata-Chuetsu Earthquake

BackgroundJapan is located in an area prone to natural disasters, and major earthquakes have occurred recently in rural areas where the proportion of elderly adults is high. Although elderly persons are vulnerable members of communities at a time of disaster, the prevalence of mental disorders among this population has yet to be reported in Japan. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of mental disorders and suicidal thoughts among community-dwelling elderly persons 3 years after an earthquake and to identify risk factors associated with their quality of life (QOL).MethodsFace-to-face interviews were conducted with 496 community-dwelling persons aged 65 years or older in areas of Japan where 2 major earthquakes had occurred during a 3-year period. The main outcome was diagnosis of a mental disorder or suicidality.ResultsDuring the 3-year period after the earthquake, 1.6% of men and 5.5% of women had received a diagnosis of major depression. There were no cases of posttraumatic stress disorder. Women were more likely than men to report suicidality (7.8% vs 3.8%, P = 0.075).ConclusionsThe prevalence of mental disorders was lower than that reported in previous studies. Despite the low prevalence of mental disorders, the percentage of community-dwelling elderly persons with subclinical mental health symptoms was high. The results indicate that appropriate public health and medical interventions are warranted after a natural disaster.

Comparison of Brazilian Spiritist Mediumship and Dissociative Identity Disorder

We studied the similarities and differences between Brazilian Spiritistic mediums and North American dissociative identity disorder (DID) patients. Twenty-four mediums selected among different Spiritistic organizations in São Paulo, Brazil, were interviewed using the Dissociative Disorder Interview Schedule, and their responses were compared with those of DID patients described in the literature. The results from Spiritistic mediums were similar to published data on DID patients only with respect to female prevalence and high frequency of Schneiderian first-rank symptoms. As compared with individuals with DID, the mediums differed in having better social adjustment, lower prevalence of mental disorders, lower use of mental health services, no use of antipsychotics, and lower prevalence of histories of physical or sexual childhood abuse, sleepwalking, secondary features of DID, and symptoms of borderline personality. Thus, mediumship differed from DID in having better mental health and social adjustment, and a different clinical profile.

Non-traditional lifestyles and prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents in Goa, India

Adolescents comprise a fifth of the population of India, but there is little research on their mental health. We conducted an epidemiological study in the state of Goa to describe the current prevalence of mental disorders and its correlates among adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years. To estimate the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in adolescents. Population-based survey of all eligible adolescents from six urban wards and four rural communities which were randomly selected. We used a Konkani translation of the Development and Well-Being Assessment to diagnose current DSM-IV emotional and behavioural disorders. All adolescents were also interviewed on socio-economic factors, education, neighbourhood, parental relations, peer and sexual relationships, violence and substance use. Out of 2,684 eligible adolescents, 2,048 completed the study. The current prevalence of any DSM-IV diagnosis was 1.81%; 95% CI 1.27-2.48. The most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders (1.0%), depressive disorder (0.5%), behavioural disorder (0.4%) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (0.2%). Adolescents from urban areas and girls who faced gender discrimination had higher prevalence. The final multivariate model found an independent association of mental disorders with an outgoing 'non-traditional' lifestyle (frequent partying, going to the cinema, shopping for fun and having a boyfriend or girlfriend), difficulties with studies, lack of safety in the neighbourhood, a history of physical or verbal abuse and tobacco use. Having one's family as the primary source of social support was associated with lower prevalence of mental disorders. The current prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents in our study was very low compared with studies in other countries. Strong family support was a critical factor associated with low prevalence of mental disorders, while factors indicative of adoption of a non-traditional lifestyle were associated with an increased prevalence.