Ahmad Ali Noorbala
1*, Seyed Abbas Bagheri Yazdi
2, Soghrat Faghihzadeh
3, Koorosh Kamali
4, Elham Faghihzadeh
5, Ahmad Hajebi
6, Shahin Akhondzadeh
7, Masoud Mozhdehi Fard
8, Masumeh Ghasemzadeh
9, Zahra Zari Moghaddam
101 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 Psychosomatic Medicine Fellowship Residency of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran,
9 Department of Mental Health, Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran, Tehran, Iran,
10 Mental Health Expertise of Markazi Provincial Health Center, Markazi University of Medical Sciences, Arak, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: This research aims to determine the mental
health status of population aged 15 and over in the province of Markazi in 2015.
Methods: The statistical population of this
cross-sectional field survey consisted of residents of urban and rural areas of
Markazi 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 Arak, Delijan, and Saveh cities. The
General Health Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was used as a screening tool for
mental disorders. Data analysis in the current study was carried out using the
SPSS-18 computer software.
Results: This study showed that using the
traditional scoring method, 25.1% of the subjects (31% of females and 18.9% of
males) were suspected of having mental disorders. The prevalence of suspected
psychiatric disorders in urban areas (25.2%) was higher than the prevalence of
these disorders in rural areas (24.8%). 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, illiterate, and housewives
people was higher than other groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study show that more than one fourth of the sample were
suspected of mental disorders, and the prevalence of these disorders has
increased from 18.6% in 1999 to 25.1% 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.