Background: Although the 2000s observed enormous changes in China, little is known about the variation in the prevalence of mental disorders. The study compared the prevalence in a Chinese population between 2004 and 2015.
Methods: Multistage stratified random sampling methods were used to identify primary sampling sites for cross-sectional surveys in 2004 and 2015 in Shandong, China. In 2004 and 2015, 22,718 and 28,194 adults, respectively, completed an expanded version of the General Health Questionnaire, then 5,402 and 9,420 adults, respectively, were administered a Chinese version of the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual-IV axis I disorders.
Results: The adjusted 1-month prevalence of any mental disorders was 18•7% (95% CI: 16•7-20•8) and 17•1% (95% CI:15•9-18•4) in 2004 and 2015, respectively. However, the prevalence of major depressive disorders increased from 1•5% (95% CI: 1•2 -1•8) in 2004 to 2•3% (95% CI: 1•9-2•8) in 2015; meanwhile the prevalence of alcohol abuse disorders were becoming more common among men and urban residents. Although mood and anxiety disorders were more prevalent in women, a much more prevalent alcohol abuse disorders for men contributed to a higher overall prevalence among men than among women. Compared to that in urban residents, the overall prevalence in rural residents declined more, and it was lower in 2015 than in 2004.
Limitations: The results may not apply to the population from other regions.
Conclusions: Despite of the stable overall prevalence, mental disorders beyond psychotic disorders should be focused on, especially alcohol abuse and major depressive disorders.
Keywords: Alcohol abuse disorders; China; Major depressive disorders; Mental disorders; Prevalence.
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