Han Liu1, YanLing He2, JingYi Wang3, JuMing Miao4, Hong Zheng5, QingZhi Zeng6. 1. Center of Disease Prevention and Control for Mental Disorders, Jing'an District Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: liuhan0057021@163.com. 2. Center of Disease Prevention and Control for Mental Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: heyl2001@163.com. 3. Center of Disease Prevention and Control for Mental Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: sarah_jingyi_1987@163.com. 4. Center of Disease Prevention and Control for Mental Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: mjm1101@163.com. 5. Center of Disease Prevention and Control for Mental Disorders, Changning District Mental Health Center, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: zhhmm2@163.com. 6. Center of Disease Prevention and Control for Mental Disorders, Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: zengqz8001@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Though Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) is one of the most important parts of health care system in China, studies on the epidemiology of depression in TCM are scarce and mental health issues in TCM have been neglected for longtime. METHODS: This was an interview-based survey. The prevalence of depression and suicidal risk in outpatients at a TCM hospital was identified by a one-stage diagnosing process using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Associated risk factors, role impairment, and service utility were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 2000 outpatients aged from 18 to 65years completed the survey with a response rate of 87.0%. The estimated prevalence of major depressive disorder was 13.2% for lifetime and 4.9% for current. No significant gender differences were found. Depression was more common in patients who lacked social support, experienced family economic burden and health burden, and underwent negative life events, poor self-rated health, or with moderate/severe sleep problem than in their correspondents; all with statistical significance (OR: 1.83-6.82). Patients with depression reported a mean of 82.7days and 99.3days of sick leave due to their physical and mental condition, respectively, which was much longer than those without depression (24.8days and 25.8days, respectively). Only 30.0% of patients with depression sought professional help from psychiatrists/psychologists or used antidepressants. LIMITATIONS: The recall bias could not be ruled out in this study and could have led to an underestimation of true prevalence and the unmet need for treatment. Since this study was cross-sectional, the causal relationships between sociodemographic factors and depression cannot be determined. CONCLUSIONS: Depression is common at TCM hospitals. The impairments due to depression are striking, and unmet needs for treatment are pervasive. Consequently, mental health services in TCM should not be neglected any longer.
BACKGROUND: Though Chinese Traditional Medicine (TCM) is one of the most important parts of health care system in China, studies on the epidemiology of depression in TCM are scarce and mental health issues in TCM have been neglected for longtime. METHODS: This was an interview-based survey. The prevalence of depression and suicidal risk in outpatients at a TCM hospital was identified by a one-stage diagnosing process using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview. Associated risk factors, role impairment, and service utility were also assessed. RESULTS: A total of 2000 outpatients aged from 18 to 65years completed the survey with a response rate of 87.0%. The estimated prevalence of major depressive disorder was 13.2% for lifetime and 4.9% for current. No significant gender differences were found. Depression was more common in patients who lacked social support, experienced family economic burden and health burden, and underwent negative life events, poor self-rated health, or with moderate/severe sleep problem than in their correspondents; all with statistical significance (OR: 1.83-6.82). Patients with depression reported a mean of 82.7days and 99.3days of sick leave due to their physical and mental condition, respectively, which was much longer than those without depression (24.8days and 25.8days, respectively). Only 30.0% of patients with depression sought professional help from psychiatrists/psychologists or used antidepressants. LIMITATIONS: The recall bias could not be ruled out in this study and could have led to an underestimation of true prevalence and the unmet need for treatment. Since this study was cross-sectional, the causal relationships between sociodemographic factors and depression cannot be determined. CONCLUSIONS:Depression is common at TCM hospitals. The impairments due to depression are striking, and unmet needs for treatment are pervasive. Consequently, mental health services in TCM should not be neglected any longer.