Ahmad Ali Noorbala
1*, Seyed Abbas Bagheri Yazdi
2, Soghrat Faghihzadeh
3, Koorosh Kamali
4, Elham Faghihzadeh
5, Ahmad Hajebi
6, Shahin Akhondzadeh
7, Maryam Abbasi Nejad
8, Ardalan Solgi
91 Psychosomatic Medicine Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
2 Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran, Tehran, Iran,
3 Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran,
4 Department of Public Health, School of Public Health, Zanjan University of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran,
5 Department of Biostatistics, Paramedical School, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
6 Research Center for Addiction and Risky Behaviors (ReCARB), Psychiatric Department, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
7 Psychiatric Research Center, Roozbeh Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
8 Psychiatrist, Depratment for Mental Health and Substnace Abuse, Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran, Tehran, Iran,
9 Responsible Manager of Mental Health office of Hamadan Provincial Health Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: This research aims to determine the mental health status of population aged
15 and over in the province of Hamadan in
2015.
Methods: This cross-sectional survey was performed among 1,200 individuals aged 15 years
and older, living in urban and rural areas of the three cities of Hamedan,
Asadabad, and Malayer. Individuals were enrolled in the study by clustered and
systematic randomization. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28), was used for screening for common mental disorders. Those
scoring above the cut-off point of the GHQ-28 were considered to be suffering
from at least one mental disorder. Data was analyzed using the SPSS-18
software.
Results: This study showed
that using the traditional scoring method, 30.7% of the subjects (31.4% of
females and 29.9% of males) were suspected of having mental disorders. The
prevalence of suspected psychiatric disorders in urban areas (32.8%) was higher
than the prevalence of these disorders in rural areas (25.3%). The prevalence
of suspected anxiety and the somatization of symptoms was higher than the
prevalence of social dysfunction and depression, and the prevalence of these
components was higher in women than men. The findings of this study also showed
that the prevalence of suspected mental disorders increased significantly with
age. The prevalence of suspected cases of these disorders among women, the age
group of 65 and older, people living in urban areas, divorced and widowed,
primary and secondary, and unemployed people was higher than other groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study
show that about one third of the sample are suspected of mental disorders, and
the prevalence of these disorders has decreased from 34.7% in 1999 to 30.7% in
2015. Therefore, it is mandatory for the provincial public health authorities
to take the needed steps to ensure that necessary requirements encompassing
prevention and promotion of mental health are implemented.