Prevalence of Priority Psychiatric Disorders in a Rural Area in Kerala

The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence rate of priority psychiatric disorders in a rural area in Kerala and to find out the sociodemographic correlates of the morbidity. A door to door survey had been conducted by trained surveyors to identify individuals with priority psychiatric disorders. The detected cases were examined by a psychiatrist at their houses in the village itself, to confirm as to whether they were having any psychiatric disorder. Out of the 1094 households surveyed (having a population of five thousand two hundred and eighty four), seventy seven individuals were found to have priority psychiatric disorders giving a prevalence rate of 14.57 per thousand. Females in general showed increased mental morbidity. An increased prevalence rate has been observed among Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes. An increased morbidity is noticed among the people belonging to the lower socioeconomic status.