BACKGROUND: Psychiatric epidemiological surveys in China have repeatedly found much lower prevalence estimates than in most other parts of the world. METHOD: Face-to-face household interviews of 5201 subjects (2633 in Beijing and 2568 in Shanghai respectively) were conducted from November 2001 to February 2002 using a multistage household probability sampling method. A Chinese version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used for assessment. RESULTS: Twelve-month prevalence of any DSM-IV mental disorder in metropolitan China is estimated to be 7.0%, with major depressive disorder (2.0%), specific phobia (1.9%), and intermittent explosive disorder (1.7%) the most common disorders. Of these, 13.9% are classified as serious, 32.6% moderate, and 53.5% mild. Only 3.4% of respondents with any disorder sought treatment within the previous 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Although the general pattern of disorders, risk factors, and unmet need for treatment are similar to those in other countries, a low prevalence of mental disorders is found in metropolitan China. Resolving methodological problems that cause downward bias in estimates, such as stigma-related under-reporting and diagnostic incongruity with a somatopsychic mode of symptom presentation may lead to more accurate and probably higher prevalence estimates in future epidemiological studies. As a low prevalence still translates into an enormous number of people in China, measures are urgently needed to address the huge unmet need for treatment of mental disorders.
BACKGROUND: Psychiatric epidemiological surveys in China have repeatedly found much lower prevalence estimates than in most other parts of the world. METHOD: Face-to-face household interviews of 5201 subjects (2633 in Beijing and 2568 in Shanghai respectively) were conducted from November 2001 to February 2002 using a multistage household probability sampling method. A Chinese version of the World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used for assessment. RESULTS: Twelve-month prevalence of any DSM-IV mental disorder in metropolitan China is estimated to be 7.0%, with major depressive disorder (2.0%), specific phobia (1.9%), and intermittent explosive disorder (1.7%) the most common disorders. Of these, 13.9% are classified as serious, 32.6% moderate, and 53.5% mild. Only 3.4% of respondents with any disorder sought treatment within the previous 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Although the general pattern of disorders, risk factors, and unmet need for treatment are similar to those in other countries, a low prevalence of mental disorders is found in metropolitan China. Resolving methodological problems that cause downward bias in estimates, such as stigma-related under-reporting and diagnostic incongruity with a somatopsychic mode of symptom presentation may lead to more accurate and probably higher prevalence estimates in future epidemiological studies. As a low prevalence still translates into an enormous number of people in China, measures are urgently needed to address the huge unmet need for treatment of mental disorders.
Authors: Ronald C Kessler; Matthias Angermeyer; James C Anthony; Ron DE Graaf; Koen Demyttenaere; Isabelle Gasquet; Giovanni DE Girolamo; Semyon Gluzman; Oye Gureje; Josep Maria Haro; Norito Kawakami; Aimee Karam; Daphna Levinson; Maria Elena Medina Mora; Mark A Oakley Browne; José Posada-Villa; Dan J Stein; Cheuk Him Adley Tsang; Sergio Aguilar-Gaxiola; Jordi Alonso; Sing Lee; Steven Heeringa; Beth-Ellen Pennell; Patricia Berglund; Michael J Gruber; Maria Petukhova; Somnath Chatterji; T Bedirhan Ustün Journal: World Psychiatry Date: 2007-10 Impact factor: 49.548
Authors: William W Eaton; Silvia S Martins; Gerald Nestadt; O Joseph Bienvenu; Diana Clarke; Pierre Alexandre Journal: Epidemiol Rev Date: 2008-09-19 Impact factor: 6.222
Authors: Dirgha J Ghimire; Stephanie Chardoul; Ronald C Kessler; William G Axinn; Bishnu P Adhikari Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2013-03-13 Impact factor: 4.035