Abstract
Mental disorders are among the leading causes of nonfatal burden of disease globally.
Methods
We used the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 to examine the burden of mental disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). We defined mental disorders according to criteria proposed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV and the 10th International Classification of Diseases.
Results
Mental disorders contributed to 4.7% [(95% uncertainty interval (UI) 3.7–5.6%]) of total disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), ranking as the ninth leading cause of disease burden. Depressive disorders and anxiety disorders were the third and ninth leading causes of nonfatal burden, respectively. Almost all countries in the EMR had higher age-standardized mental disorder DALYs rates compared to the global level, and in half of the EMR countries, observed mental disorder rates exceeded the expected values.
Conclusions
The burden of mental disorders in the EMR is higher than global levels, particularly for women. To properly address this burden, EMR governments should implement nationwide quality epidemiological surveillance of mental disorders and provide adequate prevention and treatment services.
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Citation
GBD 2015 Eastern Mediterranean Region Collaborators. The burden of mental disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean region, 1990–2015: findings from the global burden of disease 2015 study. International Journal of Public Health. 7 Aug 2017.
