Ahmad Ali Noorbala
1*, Seyed Abbas Bagheri Yazdi
2, Soghrat Faghihzadeh
3, Koorosh Kamali
4, Elham Faghihzadeh
5, Ahmad Hajebi
6, Shahin Akhondzadeh
7, Gholamhosein Noroozinejad
8, Majid Bagheri
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, Department of Psychiatry, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran,
9 Mental Health Expertise of Qom Provincial Health Center, Qom University of Medical Sciences, Qom, Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: This research aims to determine the mental
health status of population aged 15 and over in the province of Qom in 2015.
Methods: The statistical population of this
cross-sectional field survey consisted of residents of urban and rural areas of
Qom in Iran. An estimated sample size of 600 people was chosen using systematic
random cluster sampling. The access was provided by the contribution of
Geographical Post Office of Qom city. The General Health
Questionnaire-28 (GHQ-28) was
used as the screening tool for mental
disorders. Data analysis in the current study was carried out using the SPSS-18
computer software.
Results: Using GHQ traditional scoring
method, 16.2% of the subjects
were shown to be at risk of mental disorders (19.7% of females and 12.6% of
males). Urban areas (17%) were more at risk of mental disorders compared with
rural residents (6.5%). 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. Such
disorders were more common in females, age group of 65 and above, people living
in rural areas, divorced and widowed, illiterate, retired and unemployed
individuals compared with the other groups.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that a
sixth of the people in the province were suspected to have mental disorders.
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.
.