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Meta-Analysis
. 2019 Nov;140(5):393-407.
doi: 10.1111/acps.13083. Epub 2019 Sep 3.

Is the global prevalence rate of adult mental illness increasing? Systematic review and meta-analysis

D Richter  1   2 , A Wall  3 , A Bruen  3 , R Whittington  3   4
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Is the global prevalence rate of adult mental illness increasing? Systematic review and meta-analysis

D Richter et al. Acta Psychiatr Scand. 2019 Nov.

Abstract

Objectives: The question whether mental illness prevalence rates are increasing is a controversially debated topic. Epidemiological articles and review publications that look into this research issue are often compromised by methodological problems. The present study aimed at using a meta-analysis technique that is usually applied for the analysis of intervention studies to achieve more transparency and statistical precision.

Methods: We searched PubMed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Google Scholar and reference lists for repeated cross-sectional population studies on prevalence rates of adult mental illness based on ICD- or DSM-based diagnoses, symptom scales and distress scales that used the same methodological approach at least twice in the same geographical region. The study is registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018090959).

Results: We included 44 samples from 42 publications, representing 1 035 697 primary observations for the first time point and 783 897 primary observations for the second and last time point. Studies were conducted between 1978 and 2015. Controlling for a hierarchical data structure, we found an overall global prevalence increase in odds ratio of 1.179 (95%-CI: 1.065-1.305). A multivariate meta-regression suggested relevant associations with methodological characteristics of included studies.

Conclusions: We conclude that the prevalence increase in adult mental illness is small, and we assume that this increase is mainly related to demographic changes.

Keywords: mental illness; meta-analysis; prevalence; secular trends.

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References

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