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Common mental disorders in M alaysia: M alaysian mental health survey, 2003–2005
Author(s) -
Krishnaswamy Saroja,
Subramaniam Kavitha,
Jemain Abdul Aziz,
Low Wah Yun,
Ramachandran Padma,
Indran Tishya,
Patel Vikram
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
asia‐pacific psychiatry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.654
H-Index - 21
eISSN - 1758-5872
pISSN - 1758-5864
DOI - 10.1111/j.1758-5872.2012.00180.x
Subject(s) - demography , logistic regression , marital status , mental health , population , confidence interval , medicine , odds ratio , ethnic group , cluster sampling , psychology , gerontology , psychiatry , environmental health , sociology , anthropology
Mental disorders are emerging as serious health threats in both developed and developing nations and contribute to greater D isability A djusted L ife Y ears ( DALY ) than infectious disease and unintentional injuries. This study aims to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the presence of common mental disorders in the M alaysian population. Methods Multistage cluster sampling method was used to obtain samples, with racial proportion as the main sampling criteria. Required sample size was calculated to be 4300 at 90% confidence level. Trained enumerators carried out the interview, with the C linical I nterview S cheduled‐ R evised ( CIS ‐ R ). Results A total of 3666 respondents were interviewed (85% response rate). The one‐week prevalence of C ommon M ental D isorders was 5.3% (95% CI of 4.57–6.03%). Findings from multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that associated factors were female gender (adjusted OR = 1.91, P < 0.01), being divorced (adjusted OR = 3.95, P < 0.05), difficulties at workplaces (adjusted OR = 3.58, P < 0.01) experiencing life events, such as divorce/marital separation (adjusted OR = 2.58, P < 0.01), unsolvable financial problems (adjusted OR = 3.87, P < 0.01), and serious problems with friends and neighbours (adjusted OR = 4.35, P < 0.01) in the year prior to data collection. Chinese ethnicity was least likely to be associated with CMD (adjusted OR = 0.27). Discussion There is a 5% prevalence of C ommon M ental D isorders in the Malaysian population. Socio‐demographic factors and experience of certain life events, particularly divorce, problems with neighbours and friends and severe financial problems in the previous year were found to be significantly associated with the prevalence of common mental disorders.