A study on the mental health of Tibetan assistant cadres exposed to high altitude / 中国实用护理杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To study the effects of altitude exposure and altitude exposure on mental health of Tibetan cadres. Methods 105 cadres in Tibet were selected as the research objects. Among them, 74 cadres in Shannan and Lhasa of Tibet (average altitude 3 680 m), 31 in Shigaze and Ali (above 3 800 m) and 14 in Ali (above 4 300 m) were selected. Using Symptom Checklist 90 (SCL-90), Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) and Ascension Insomnia Scale (AIS), 105 Tibetan aid cadres were tested by SAS, SDS, AIS and SCL-90 one week after entering Tibet and one week before leaving the plateau. The scores were collected and the mental health and sleep status of Tibetan aid workers were measured. Results The number of positive items of SCL-90 of 105 Tibetan cadres increased from (13.21±9.05) one week after entering Tibet to (38.35±18.84) one week before leaving Tibet. SAS, SDS and AIS also increased from (25.49 ± 5.19), (26.41 ± 5.15), (5.16 ± 3.54) points one week after entering Tibet to (36.78 ± 7.53), (41.42 ± 9.15), (8.71 ± 4.64) points one week before leaving Tibet. The difference was significant in the last week (Z = 8.420, 8.689, 6.277, P<0.01). The correlation analysis between SCL-90 and SAS, SDS and AIS showed that SCL-90 was positively correlated with SAS, SDS and AIS scores (r=0.651, 0.616, 0.356, P<0.01). Different altitudes have an effect on the mental health of Tibetan aid cadres. The paranoid item scores of Tibetan aid cadres with altitude＞4 300 m in SCL-90 were (1.68 ±0.50) points, which were higher than those of Tibetan aid cadres with altitude<4 300 m (1.24 ± 0.28) points and (1.40± 0.38) points. The difference was statistically significant (F=5.255, P=0.007); The SDS scores of Tibetan aid cadres with altitude＞4 300 m were (46.64 ± 7.24) points, which were higher than those of Tibetan aid cadres with altitude<4 300 m (40.76± 8.99) points and (40.58± 8.28) points. The difference was statistically significant (F=3.223, P=0.044). Conclusion Exposure to high altitude affects the mental health of cadres assisting Tibet to varying degrees. The mental health of cadres assisting Tibet deserves attention.