Objective:
To investigate the prevalence of various mental disorders in northern Xinjiang, to investigate the the influencing factors of various mental disorders, and to understand the mental health status of the residents in northern Xinjiang, so as to target the prevention and control of disease development and rationalize the allocation of medical resources.
Methods:
A multi-stage stratified whole-group sampling method was used to randomly select 4400 people aged 15 years and above in five regions or cities (Urumqi, Wujiaqu, Shihezi, Ili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, and Tacheng region) in northern Xinjiang from November 2021 to July 2022, and a final valid sample size of 3853 people was obtained. The study instruments used were general demographic questionnaires, self-assessment scales (Ceneral Health Questionnaire, Symptom Checklist 90, and Mood Disorders Questionnaire, etc.), and others-assessment scales (Hamilton Depression Inventory, Bech-Rafaelsen Mania Rating Scale , Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, etc.). Using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) classification of mental and behavioral disorders as the diagnostic criteria, two psychiatrists with five years or more of experience diagnosed the respondents with mental disorders, and those with inconsistent diagnoses were diagnosed secondarily by the chief or deputy chief psychiatrist. The χ² test was used to investigate the differences in the prevalence of various mental disorders under different sociodemographic factors, and logistic regression analysis was used to explore the independent factors influencing the prevalence of various mental disorders. The mental health status of residents in northern Xinjiang was assessed overall by the SCL-90 scale scores, and the t-test was used to compare the differences in the scores of each dimension of the SCL-90 scale among different populations.
Results:
The point-in-time prevalence of any mental disorder in northern Xinjiang was 9.71% (95% CI= 8.77-10.64) and the age-adjusted rate was 10.07% (95% CI= 9.10-11.03).
Prevalence of mental disorders under different sociodemographic distributions: Females were higher than males (11.50%>7.28%; χ²=19.111, P<0.001); divorced people were higher than people with other marital status (21.59%; χ²=15.098, P=0.005); illiterate people were higher than people with other literacy levels (36.49%; χ²=117.071, P<0.001); average monthly income of less than 2000 Yuan was higher than people with other income bands (11.08%; χ²=10.810, P=0.004).
Logistic regression analysis reveals that:
Females (OR=1.912; 95%CI=1.501 to 2.437), divorcees (OR=2.272; 95%CI=1.307 to 3.948), illiterate (OR=11.686; 95%CI=6.624 to 20.619) and alcohol drinkers (OR=1.517; 95%CI=1.182 to 1.948) were at higher risk of various types of mental disorders.
Females (OR=1.977; 95%CI=1.401-2.792), people aged 25-34 years (OR=5.342; 95% CI=1.414-20.188), illiterate (OR=6.173; 95%CI=2.205-17.281), people with average monthly income less than 2000 Yuan (OR=2.379; 95%CI= 1.085-5.216), and alcohol drinkers (OR=1.524; 95%CI=1.079-2.153) had a higher risk of developing mood disorders.
Females (OR=1.824; 95%CI=1.272-2.616), people aged ≥65 years (OR=3.868; 95%CI=1.716-8.720), and alcohol drinkers (OR=1.547; 95%CI=1.067-2.242) were at higher risk of developing anxiety disorders.
Rural populations (OR=4.770; 95%CI=1.626-13.993) had a higher risk of schizophrenia and those with secondary/high school education had a lower risk of schizophrenia (OR=0.094; 95%CI=0.016-0.549).
In the SCL-90 scale, except for the terror factor, residents in the northern Xinjiang region scored better than the national norm, with men scoring better than women.
Conclusion:
The detection rate of mental disorders was 9.71% in northern Xinjiang, the age-adjusted rate was 10.07%, with a higher prevalence of mood disorders and anxiety disorders.
There are similarities and differences in the influencing factors associated with the prevalence of various types of mental disorders, with females, divorce, low education level, low income and alcohol consumption being the high risk groups for mental disorders.
Overall, the mental health status of residents in northern Xinjiang is better than the national norm.