[Epidemiological survey on neuropsychiatric disorders in Tibet of China: neuroses, alcohol-related disorders, mental retardation and epilepsy].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the prevalence of four common neuropsychiatric disorders in Tibet, with an aim to providing information support to health planning.


METHODS
The survey was carried out in four regions of Tibet. The sampling strategy was adapted from that of a national psychiatric epidemiological survey in China in 1982 and 1993. The Neurosis Screening Inventory, Screening Inventory for Alcohol Dependence and Related Problems, Child Intelligence Screening Inventory, and a questionnaire for the Detection of Epileptic Seizures were administered to the respondents through face to face interview. Those with a positive response and 10% of those with a negative response were further interviewed with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (research version) (SCID-I ). Anxiety disorders and alcohol used disorders were diagnosed according to the American Psychiatric Association: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) (DSM-IV). Hysteria and mental retardation were diagnosed according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10), and the Chinese Classification of Mental Disorders, 3rd edition (CCMD-3).


RESULTS
The point prevalence of neuroses, alcohol-related disorders, mental retardation and epilepsy was 2. 56%, 4. 06%, 0. 28% and 0. 68%, respectively. The lifetime prevalence of neuroses, alcohol-related disorders, mental retardation and epilepsy was 2. 62%, 4. 24%, 0. 28% and 0.72%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Alcohol-related disorders and neuroses are the two common mental health problems in Tibet. Mental retardation and epilepsy are the two serious neuropsychiatric disorders affecting Tibetan children and adolescence. These disorders should be identified as priorities in the reginonal health planning in Tibet.
Mental Health Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China.
Shan-Ming
SM
Liu
Geng
G
Wei
Wei
W
Zhang
Yun
Y
Xiang
Xiao-Qi
XQ
Huang
Chuang
C
Yang
Wen-Jun
WJ
Huang
Wei-Jue
WJ
Xie
Xia
X
He
Xiao-Fan
XF
Su
Jia
J
Wang
Pingcuo
P
Ciren
Zuoga
Z
Bima
Pu
P
Ci
Sang
S
Za
Xie-He
XH
Liu
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009497:Neurotic Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D018609:Tibet / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult