The British Journal of Psychiatry (2008) 192: 45-51. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.034223
© 2008 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Non-traditional lifestyles and prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents in Goa, India

Aravind Pillai, MBBS, MPH

Sangath, Goa, India

Vikram Patel, PhD

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK, and Sangath, Goa

Percy Cardozo, MA

Sangath, Goa, India

Robert Goodman, PhD, FRCPsych, MRCP

Kings College London Institute of Psychiatry, UK

Helen A. Weiss, PhD

London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK

Gracy Andrew, MA

Sangath, Goa, India.

Correspondence: Vikram Patel, PhD, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, UK. Email: vikram.patel{at}lshtm.ac.uk

Declaration of interest

None. Funding detailed in Acknowledgements.

Background

Adolescents comprise a fifth of the population of India, but there is little research on their mental health. We conducted an epidemiological study in the state of Goa to describe the current prevalence of mental disorders and its correlates among adolescents aged between 12 and 16 years.

Aims

To estimate the prevalence and correlates of mental disorders in adolescents.

Method

Population-based survey of all eligible adolescents from six urban wards and four rural communities which were randomly selected. We used a Konkani translation of the Development and Well-Being Assessment to diagnose current DSM–IV emotional and behavioural disorders. All adolescents were also interviewed on socio-economic factors, education, neighbourhood, parental relations, peer and sexual relationships, violence and substance use.

Results

Out of 2684 eligible adolescents, 2048 completed the study. The current prevalence of any DSM–IV diagnosis was 1.81%; 95% CI 1.27–2.48. The most common diagnoses were anxiety disorders (1.0%), depressive disorder (0.5%), behavioural disorder (0.4%) and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (0.2%). Adolescents from urban areas and girls who faced gender discrimination had higher prevalence. The final multivariate model found an independent association of mental disorders with an outgoing ‘non-traditional’ lifestyle (frequent partying, going to the cinema, shopping for fun and having a boyfriend or girlfriend), difficulties with studies, lack of safety in the neighbourhood, a history of physical or verbal abuse and tobacco use. Having one’s family as the primary source of social support was associated with lower prevalence of mental disorders.

Conclusions

The current prevalence of mental disorders in adolescents in our study was very low compared with studies in other countries. Strong family support was a critical factor associated with low prevalence of mental disorders, while factors indicative of adoption of a non-traditional lifestyle were associated with an increased prevalence.


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