Elevated 12-month and lifetime prevalence and comorbidity rates of mood, anxiety, and alcohol use disorders in Chinese men who have sex with men

PLoS One. 2013 Apr 18;8(4):e50762. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0050762. Print 2013.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to assess whether Chinese men who have sex with men (MSM) had a significantly elevated prevalence of psychiatric disorders compared to urban males in China.

Methods: 807 MSM were recruited using a respondent-driven sampling (RDS) method in urban area of northeast China. Psychiatric disorders were assessed employing the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI. Version 1.0) according to the criteria of the DSM-III-R.

Results: Chinese MSM had a significantly elevated standardized prevalence ratios (SPR) for lifetime prevalence of any disorder (SPR = 2.8; 95%CI: 2.5-3.2), mood disorder (SPR = 3.0; 95%CI: 2.3-3.7), anxiety disorder (SPR = 5.5; 95% CI: 4.6-6.5), alcohol use disorder (SPR = 2.4, 95%CI: 2.0-2.8), and combination of disorders (SPR = 4.2; 95%CI: 3.4-5.1).

Conclusions: Chinese MSM had significantly elevated prevalence and comorbidity of psychiatric disorders. RDS is a suitable sampling method for psychiatric epidemiological survey in MSM population.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Alcohol-Related Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Bias
  • China / epidemiology
  • Comorbidity
  • Data Collection / methods
  • Homosexuality, Male / statistics & numerical data*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Mood Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Population Surveillance / methods
  • Prevalence
  • Sampling Studies
  • Urban Population

Grants and funding

This study was supported by Liaoning Provincial Science-Technology Department grant 2008225001 to Dr. PG. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.