Ahmad Ali Noorbala
1*, Seyed Abbas Bagheri Yazdi
2, Soghrat Faghihzadeh
3, Koorosh Kamali
4, , Elham Faghihzadeh
5, Ahmad Hajebi
6, Shahin Akhondzadeh
7, Parisa Divsalar
8, Nahid Kaviani
9, Zeinab Sarhadi
10, Ahdieh Bashar
111 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, Psychosomatic Medicine Fellowship, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
9 Mental Health Expertise of Kerman Provincial Health Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran,
10 Mental Health Expertise of Bam Health Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran,...
11 Mental Health Expertise of Jiroft Health Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran,
Abstract
Introduction: This research aims to determine the mental
health status of population aged 15 and over in the province of Kerman in 2015.
Methods: The statistical population of this
cross-sectional field survey consisted of residents of urban and rural areas of
Kerman in Iran. An estimated sample size of 1200 people was chosen using
systematic random cluster sampling. The access was provided by the contribution
of Geographical Post Office of Kerman, Jiroft and Bam cities. The General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used as the screening tool
for mental disorders. The
analysis of data in the current study was carried out using the SPSS-18
software.
Results: Using GHQ traditional scoring
method, the results showed that 18.8% of the subjects showed to be at risk of mental
disorders (22.9% of females and 14.8% of males). Urban areas (20.2%) were more
at risk of mental disorders compared with rural residents (16%). Anxiety and
somatization symptoms were more frequent than depression and social dysfunction
among respondents. The obtained data revealed that the prevalence of mental
disorders increased with age. The results also indicated that mental disorders
were more common in certain subgroups; in particular women, those aged 65 years
and above, the divorced and widowed, illiterate and unemployed adults.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that one fifth of the
samples were suspected of psychiatric disorders and the prevalence of these
disorders has decreased from 22.9% in 1999 to 18.8% in 2015; so, it is on the
authorities and health managers of the province to maintain the essential
elements for continuity of mental health services to people with mental
disorders.