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. 2019 Jan;14(1):1-15.

Prevalence and Correlates of Psychiatric Disorders in a National Survey of Iranian Children and Adolescents

Mohammad Reza Mohammadi  1 , Nastaran Ahmadi  2 , Ali Khaleghi  1 , Seyed Ali Mostafavi  1 , Koorosh Kamali  3 , Mehdi Rahgozar  4 , Ameneh Ahmadi  1 , Zahra Hooshyari  1 , Seyyed Salman Alavi  1 , Parviz Molavi  5 , Nasrin Sarraf  6 , Seyed Kaveh Hojjat  7 , Soleiman Mohammadzadeh  8 , Shahrokh Amiri  9 , Soroor Arman  10 , Ahmad Ghanizadeh  11 , Ahmad Ahmadipour  12 , Rahim Ostovar  13 , Hedayat Nazari  14 , Seyed Hamzeh Hosseini  15 , Atieh Golbon  16 , Firoozeh Derakhshanpour  17 , Ali Delpisheh  18 , Forough Riahi  19 , Siavash Talepasand  20 , Azizollah Mojahed  21 , Naser Hajian Motlagh  22 , Aazam Sadat Heydari Yazdi  23 , Mohammad Ahmadpanah  24 , Reza Dastjerdi  25 , Houshang Amirian  26 , Alireza Armani  27 , Parvin Safavi  28 , Maryam Kousha  29 , Anita Alaghmand  30 , Mahin Eslami Shahrbabaki  31 , Arezou Kiani  32 , Javad Mahmoudi Gharaei  1 , Alia Shakiba  1 , Hadi Zarafshan  1 , Maryam Salmanian  1 , Eric Taylor  33 , Eric Fombonne  34
Affiliations

Prevalence and Correlates of Psychiatric Disorders in a National Survey of Iranian Children and Adolescents

Mohammad Reza Mohammadi et al. Iran J Psychiatry. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

Objective: Considering the impact of rapid sociocultural, political, and economical changes on societies and families, population-based surveys of mental disorders in different communities are needed to describe the magnitude of mental health problems and their disabling effects at the individual, familial, and societal levels. Method : A population-based cross sectional survey (IRCAP project) of 30 532 children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years was conducted in all provinces of Iran using a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected by 250 clinical psychologists trained to use the validated Persian version of the semi-structured diagnostic interview Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-PL (K-SADS-PL). Results: In this national epidemiological survey, 6209 out of 30 532 (22.31%) were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. The anxiety disorders (14.13%) and behavioral disorders (8.3%) had the highest prevalence, while eating disorders (0.13%) and psychotic symptoms (0.26%) had the lowest. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was significantly lower in girls (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.80-0.90), in those living in the rural area (OR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.73-0.87), in those aged 15-18 years (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.99), as well as that was significantly higher in those who had a parent suffering from mental disorders (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.63-2.36 for mother and OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07-1.66 for father) or physical illness (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.17-1.35 for mother and OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.10-1.28 for father). Conclusion: About one fifth of Iranian children and adolescents suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder. Therefore, we should give a greater priority to promoting mental health and public health, provide more accessible services and trainings, and reduce barriers to accessing existing services.

Keywords: Child and Adolescent; Comorbidity; Epidemiology; Psychiatric Disorders; Risk Factors.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Sex Difference in the Rate of Iranian Children and Adolescents Psychiatric Disorders in each Year of Life
Figure 2
Figure 2
Percent of Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents
Figure 3
Figure 3
The Co-Morbidity Graph of Psychiatric Disorders in Children and Adolescents with One or More Other Psychiatric Disorder
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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