Psychiatric morbidity of a rural Indian community. Changes over a 20-year interval

Abstract

Background: Cross-sectional studies give no indication of the changes that may occur in the mental health status of a community in course of times. Studies should be designed to assess these changes.

Aims: To assess the changes, if any, in the prevalence of mental disorders in a rural community after an interval of 20 years in the context of its changing socio-economic conditions.

Method: A door-to-door survey of the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in two villages was conducted by a team of psychiatrists. The survey was repeated after 20 years by the same team and by the same method. Changes in the mental health status of the community were compared.

Results: Total morbidity per 1000 fell from 116.8 to 105.2. Morbidity in men fell from 86.9 to 73.5 per 1000 and in women from 146.8 to 138.3 per 1000. Rates of anxiety, hysteria and phobia had fallen dramatically and those of depression and mania had risen significantly.

Conclusion: The level of psychiatric morbidity showed no statistically significant change. The morbidity pattern (relative proportion of type of morbidity), however, showed some interesting changes. Similar studies should be done on a larger sample.