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 Abbasinejad
8, Alieh Zarkesh
9, Farnaz Amirloo
10, MohammadReza Ghafarzadeh
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, Mental Health Expert, Depratment for Mental Health and Substnace Abuse, Ministry of Health and Medical Education of Iran,
9 Responsible Expertise of Mental Health in Tehran Provincial Health Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran- Iran,
10 Responsible Expertise of Mental Health in Iran Provincial Health Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran- Iran, ....
11 Responsible Expertise of Mental Health in Shahid Beheshti Provincial Health Center, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran- Iran.
Abstract
Introduction: This research aims to determine the mental
health status of population aged 15 and over in the province of Tehran in 2015.
Method: This cross-sectional survey was performed on 1,200
individuals aged fifteen years and older, living in urban, and rural areas of
the three main districts of Tehran, Shahriar, and Nasimshahr of Tehran
Province. 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.
All data was analyzed using the SPSS-18 software.
Results: According to our data, 30.2% of the
subjects (34.2% of females and 26.4% of males) were suspected of having mental
disorders. The prevalence of suspected psychiatric disorders in urban areas
(35.1%) was higher than the prevalence of these disorders in rural areas
(18.2%). Scoring above the cut-off point of the GHQ-28 also had a positive
correlation with age, especially among those aged 65 years old and above.
Somatization and also symptoms of anxiety were more prevalent than social
dysfunction and depressive symptoms, and also more prevalent among females
compared to males. Being suspected of a mental disorder was also more prevalent
among those who had been divorced, widowed, unemployed, and having
post-graduate university education
Conclusion: The results of this study show that about one third of our
sample population were suspected of suffering from a mental disorder. The
prevalence of common mental disorders has increased from 21.2% in 1999 to 31.7%
in 2015. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that public health authorities
put more effort to ensure necessary requirements encompassing prevention and
promotion of mental health of the Iranian population residing in Tehran
province.