[The lifetime prevalence of mental disorders in north-eastern Germany. What is the influence of earlier mental morbidity on survey participation and prevalence estimates? Results from the SHIP-study]

Abstract

Objective: This work addresses the life-time-prevalence of mental disorders in the adult general population in a German region (Vorpommern). We address effects of attrition on prevalence estimates.

Methods: Analyses are based on a general population cohort study (29 - 89 years, Study of Health in Pomerania, N = 2400), using the M-CIDI to obtain life-time diagnoses of mental disorders according to ICD-10. Statistical weights were used to assess the effects of selective non-response on prevalence estimates related to baseline physical and psychological morbidity and sociodemographic variables, measured 10 years before.

Results: In total 44.6 % of the male and 55.2 % of the female participants fulfilled criteria for at least one ICD mental disorder including specific phobias and tobacco dependence. Physical but not psychological baseline morbidity showed relevant associations to participation in the psychological examination ten years later. Weighted and unweighted prevalence estimates for mental disorders were very similar.

Conclusion: Our results illustrate the high burden due to mental disorders. Most prevalence estimates seem robust to prior mental comorbidities.