PREVALENCE OF MINOR PSYCHIATRIC-DISORDERS IN AN ADULT AFRICAN RURAL-COMMUNITY IN SOUTH-AFRICA

Background. This paper reports on a two-stage community-based epidemio logical study of selected minor psychiatric disorders conducted on an adult African population in South Africa. Methods. Using a modified ra ndom cluster sampling method, 354 adults were identified as the first- stage sample, with the SRQ-20 being used as a first-stage screen. Clin ical interviews based on DSM-IV checklists for generalized anxiety dis order, major depression and dysthymia were administered as the second- stage criterion to 81 subjects from the sample. Results. The weighted prevalence for generalised anxiety and depressive disorders was 23.9 % (95% CI 15.1%-32.7%), comprising: generalized anxiety 3.7%, major dep ression 4.8%, dysthymia 7.3 %, and major depression and dysthymia 8.2% . Statistically significant associations were found between caseness a nd age, marital status, employment, income and educational level. Conc lusions. The results are discussed in relation to comparative local an d international data as well as in the context of the current restruct uring of the mental-health care system in South Africa from tertiary c urative care to integrated primary mental-health care.