Epidemiological Study of Mental Disorders in Bathinda District of Punjab

The WHO Global burden of disease study estimates that mental and addictive disorders are the most burdensome in the world and it will increase over coming decades. The mental and behavioural disorders account for 12% of global disease burden. In India, little is known about the extent, severity and unmet needs of treatment in mental disorders.

To estimate prevalence of mental disorders in Bathinda area of Punjab and to find out association between psychiatric illness and various socio-cultural and demographic factors.

In a hospital-based cross-sectional study, 185 patients attending Department of Psychiatry for the first time were taken as study sample against a study population of 4,000(total number of patients visiting hospital during same period). A thorough medical and socio-demographic history was taken and general physical examination was done in each case, followed by discussion with consultant physician and final diagnosis was reached for each patient.

Prevalence of all mental disorders came out to be 39out of 1000. People in age group of 60 years and above were found to be more affected than others. Prevalence of psychiatric illness was more in widowed/divorcee/separated and employed persons. People who were illiterate and those from low socio-economic status were found to be more affected.

There is an urgent requirement to find out trends of psychiatric illness in Indian society and to address the unmet needs of mental health care.