Psychiatric morbidity of a rural Indian community - Changes over a 20-yearinterval

Background Cross-sectional studies give no indication of the changes that m ay occur in the mental health status of a community in course of times. Stu dies should be designed to assess these changes. Aims To assess the changes, if any, in the prevalence of mental disorders i n a rural community after an interval of 20 years in the context of its cha nging socio economic conditions. Method A door-to-door survey of the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity in two villages was conducted by a team of psychiatrists. The survey was repea ted after 20 years by the same team and by the same method. Changes in the mental health status of the community were compared. Results Total morbidity per 1000 fell from 116.8 to 105.2. Morbidity in men fell from 86.9 to 73.5 per 1000 and in women from 146.8 to 138.3 per 1000. Rates of anxiety, hysteria and phobia had fallen dramatically and those of depression and mania had risen significantly. Conclusion The level of psychiatric morbidity showed no statistically signi ficant change. The morbidity pattern (relative proportion of type of morbid ity), however, showed some interesting changes. Similar studies should be d one on a larger sample. Declaration of interest None.