Community Based Survey on Psychiatric Morbidity in Eastern Nepal

• Published in: Journal of Nepal Medical Association Vol. 52; no. 196; pp. 997 - 1004
• Main Authors: Shyangwa, P M, Shakya, D R, Adhikari, B R, Pandey, A K, Sapkota, N
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Nepal Nepal Medical Association 01.10.2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Alcoholism - epidemiology; Anxiety Disorders - epidemiology; Depression - epidemiology; Epilepsy - epidemiology; Female; Humans; Male; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Morbidity; Nepal - epidemiology; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; community survey; mental illness; psychiatric morbidity
• ISSN: 0028-2715; 1815-672X
• DOI: 10.31729/jnma.2801

Mental health problem is common and ubiquitous. Mental illness cuts across all sections of society, irrespective of socio-economic status. Recent international survey showed a varying prevalence rates ranged (4.7%- 12.0%). The Community study in Nepal yielded prevalence rate of mental illness at 14.0%. This is a descriptive, epidemiologic study with systematic randomization sampling. Of 911 respondents majority was married (76.1%), of age group 20-59 yrs. Overall, 113 (12.4%) respondents had at least one psychiatric disorder and the commonest were: Depression, Anxiety disorders, Alcohol use disorders with 1.9% had seizure/epilepsy. Community prevalence rate of some common psychiatric disorders is high which calls for special attention to address depressive and alcohol related disorder from all quarters of society particularly from government.