Twelve-month prevalence, severity, and unmet need for treatment of mental disorders in metropolitan China.
BACKGROUND
Psychiatric epidemiological surveys in China have repeatedly found much lower prevalence estimates than in most other parts of the world.


METHODS
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.
Shen
Yu-Cun
YC
Peking University Institute of Mental Health.
Zhang
Ming-Yuan
MY
Huang
Yue-Qin
YQ
He
Yan-Ling
YL
Liu
Zhao-Rui
ZR
Cheng
Hui
H
Tsang
Adley
A
Lee
Sing
S
Kessler
Ronald C
RC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002681:China / Q000453:epidemiology; D003695:Delivery of Health Care; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014505:Urban Population