epidemiology of mental disorders in urabn and rural areas of sowmaesara-gillan

the aim of this study was to determine the prevalence rate of mental disorders among people aged 15 and over. after a pilot study for estimating the sample size, 625 subjects were selected by random cluster sampling from family information files in sowmaesara health centre office. in this study, ghq-28 was used as a screening tool, and dsm-iii-r clinical interview checklist for diagnostic interview. the results showed that 23.84% (30.84% females and 15.8% males) had mental disorder. mood (12.16%) and anxiety (7.52%) disorders were the most prevalent ones. this results also revealed that major depression (6.24%) was the most prevalent disorder in among mood disorders. and generalized anxiety disorder (5.12%) was the most prevalent one among anxiety disorders.