Epidemiological investigation on mental disorders at Tibet in China:I. major psychiatric disorders

Objective To investigate the prevalence of mental disorders in Tibet for the consideration of health policy makers. Methods The methods of this survey were conformed to those used in national psychiatric epidemiological survey in China 1982 and 1993. Stratified cluster randomized sampling method according to the demographic ratio of Tibetan population was used. Four representative areas of Tibet were selected to be the frame of sampling. The screened positive cases and 10% negative cases were interviewed face-to-face with Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I Disorders (research version) (SCID-I). Then,the confirmed cases were diagnosed according to American Psychiatric Association:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) (DSM-IV). Results Among 5375 of the population aged ≥15 in Tibet,the point prevalence of mood disorders,schizophrenia,organic mental disorders and acute and transient psychosis were 0.48%,0.34%,0.17% and 0.037% respectively; and the lifetime prevalence were 0.56%,0.37%,0.17% and 0.037% respectively。Conclusions The total lifetime prevalence of four major psychiatric disorders in Tibet was 1.14%. The health policy makers should seriously consider how to manage the issues in 1% population of Tibet who suffered from these major psychiatric disorders.