The Burden of Mental Disorders in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 1990-2013

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Raghid Charara, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Mohammad Forouzanfar, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Mohsen Naghavi, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Maziar Moradi-Lakeh, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Ashkan Afshin, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Theo Vos, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Farah Daoud, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Haidong Wang, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Charbel El Bcheraoui, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Ibrahim Khalil, Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation; Randah R. Hamadeh, Arabian Gulf University; Ardeshir Khosravi, Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education; Vafa Rahimi-Movaghar, Tehran University of Medical Sciences; Yousef Khader, Jordan University of Science & Technology; Nawal Al-Hamad, Public Authority for Food and Nutrition; Carla Makhlouf Obermeyer, American University of Beirut; Anwar Rafay, Contech International Health Consultants; Rana Asghar, South Asian Public Health Forum; Saleem M. Rana, Contech International Health Consultants; Saad B Omer, Emory University
• Language: English
• Date: 2017-01-17
• Publisher: Public Library of Science
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2017 Charara et al.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0169575
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: PLoS ONE
• ISSN: 1932-6203
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Start Page: e0169575
• End Page: e0169575
• Grant/Funding Information: The funding source was the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
• Keywords: DISEASE; METAANALYSIS; GLOBAL BURDEN; AFGHANISTAN; HEALTH; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology - Other Topics; SYSTEMATIC ANALYSIS; COMMUNITY PSYCHIATRIC SURVEY; POPULATION; Science & Technology; PREVALENCE; DEPRESSION
• Research Categories: Psychology, Clinical; Health Sciences, Public Health

Abstract

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) is witnessing an increase in chronic disorders, including mental illness. With ongoing unrest, this is expected to rise. This is the first study to quantify the burden of mental disorders in the EMR. We used data from the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD) 2013. DALYs (disability-adjusted life years) allow assessment of both premature mortality (years of life lost-YLLs) and nonfatal outcomes (years lived with disability-YLDs). DALYs are computed by adding YLLs and YLDs for each age-sex-country group. In 2013, mental disorders contributed to 5.6% of the total disease burden in the EMR (1894 DALYS/100,000 population): 2519 DALYS/100,000 (2590/100,000 males, 2426/100,000 females) in high-income countries, 1884 DALYS/100,000 (1618/100,000 males, 2157/100,000 females) in middle-income countries, 1607 DALYS/100,000 (1500/100,000 males, 1717/100,000 females) in low-income countries. Females had a greater proportion of burden due to mental disorders than did males of equivalent ages, except for those under 15 years of age. The highest proportion of DALYs occurred in the 25-49 age group, with a peak in the 35-39 years age group (5344 DALYs/100,000). The burden of mental disorders Burden of Mental Disorders in EMR PLOS ONE in EMR increased from 1726 DALYs/100,000 in 1990 to 1912 DALYs/100,000 in 2013 (10.8% increase). Within the mental disorders group in EMR, depressive disorders accounted for most DALYs, followed by anxiety disorders. Among EMR countries, Palestine had the largest burden of mental disorders. Nearly all EMR countries had a higher mental disorder burden compared to the global level. Our findings call for EMR ministries of health to increase provision of mental health services and to address the stigma of mental illness. Moreover, our results showing the accelerating burden of mental health are alarming as the region is seeing an increased level of instability. Indeed, mental health problems, if not properly addressed, will lead to an increased burden of diseases in the region.