Prevalence of mental disorders in the elderly population 5 years after the Lushan earthquake in Ya'an, China.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to explore the prevalence and distribution of mental disorders in the elderly population 5 years after the Lushan earthquake in Ya'an, China. METHODS: A multi-stage, group-matching random sampling method was adopted with 2579 elderly participants (≥ 60 years old) who were interviewed from January to May 2019. Preliminary screening was conducted using the scale by trained psychiatric nurses, followed by a diagnostic interview during the second stage using Chinese Version of the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorder by trained psychiatrists. RESULTS: A total of 2561 participants were included in this study with complete data. The weighted lifetime prevalence of all mental disorders in the elderly was 16.2% (95% CI 15.3-17.1), and the weighted 12-month prevalence was 15.2% (95% CI 13.4-17.0). Depressive disorders, anxiety disorders, substance-related and addictive disorders were the most common mental disorders. The 12-month prevalence of all mental disorders were significantly higher in the elderly living alone, with chronic somatic disease, and being poor (P < 0.05). The 12-month prevalence of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) was significantly higher in the elderly in extremely severely earthquake-affected areas (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The results of this study show that mental health status of the elderly in Ya'an area differ by socio-economic development, geographical location, and natural disasters. The social and economic development characteristics, the impact of major natural disasters (e.g., earthquakes), and population characteristics should be combined to formulate strategies and interventions to promote the mental health of the elderly.

The impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health in general population in different areas in China.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to explore the impacts of COVID-19 outbreak on mental health status in general population in different affected areas in China. METHODS: This was a comparative study including two groups of participants: (1) general population in an online survey in Ya'an and Jingzhou cities during the COVID-19 outbreak from 10-20 February 2020; and (2) matching general population selected from the mental health survey in Ya'an in 2019 (from January to May 2019). General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), Self-rating Anxiety Scale (SAS), and Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS) were used. RESULTS: There were 1775 participants (Ya'an in 2019 and 2020: 537 respectively; Jingzhou in 2020: 701). Participants in Ya'an had a significantly higher rate of general health problems (GHQ scores ⩾3) in 2020 (14.7%) than in 2019 (5.2%) (p < 0.001). Compared with Ya'an (8.0%), participants in Jingzhou in 2020 had a significantly higher rate of anxiety (SAS scores ⩾50, 24.1%) (p < 0.001). Participants in Ya'an in 2020 had a significantly higher rate of depression (SDS scores ⩾53, 55.3%) than in Jingzhou (16.3%) (p < 0.001). The risk factors of anxiety symptoms included female, number of family members (⩾6 persons), and frequent outdoor activities. The risk factors of depression symptoms included participants in Ya'an and uptake self-protective measures. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of psychological symptoms has increased sharply in general population during the COVID-19 outbreak. People in COVID-19 severely affected areas may have higher scores of GHQ and anxiety symptoms. Culture-specific and individual-based psychosocial interventions should be developed for those in need during the COVID-19 outbreak.

An epidemiological survey of mental disorders 5 years after the Lushan earthquake in Ya'an, China.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to (1) explore the prevalence and relevant influencing factors of different mental disorders 5 years after the Lushan earthquake in Ya'an, China. METHODS: An epidemiological mental health survey was conducted to identify the prevalence of mental disorders in general population in Ya'an. A multi-stage, group-matching random sampling method was adopted. Face-to-face interviews were done with a two-stage design by trained interviewers and psychiatrists. The 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V) was used for the diagnosis. RESULTS: There were 8876 participants who were interviewed in this study. The total 12-month and lifetime prevalence of all mental disorders were 12.5% and 14.7%, respectively. There was a significant difference between males and females in the prevalence patterns of several mental disorders. Han ethnic group had higher prevalence of anxiety disorders (2.7%), and the Tibetan group had higher prevalence of alcohol-related disorders (5.0%). Logistic regression analysis showed that the areas severely affected by the earthquake had significantly higher prevalence of depressive disorders, and the extremely severe affected areas had significantly higher prevalence of trauma- and stressor-related disorders. CONCLUSION: Our findings show that the prevalence of a range of mental disorders 5 years after the earthquake in Ya'an are high, and the prevalence of depressive and trauma- and stressor-related disorders may be influenced differently by the various severity of earthquake impact. This study may be crucial for the health policy-making, cultural-specific mental health services and long-term mental recovery after the earthquake.

Electro-optic coupling of wide wavelength range in linear chirped-periodically poled lithium niobate and its applications.

We theoretically investigate the electro-optic coupling in an optical superlattice of linear chirped-periodically poled lithium niobate. It is found that the electro-optic coupling in such optical superlattice can work in a wide wavelength range. Some of examples, with bandwidths of 20, 40, 80, 120 nm, are demonstrated. The way to determine the electric field for perfect conversion between o- and e-ray and the method using apodized crystals of tanh profile to reduce the ripples are shown. As one of its applications, one kind of broadband Solc-type bandpass filter in optical communication range is proposed.

[Epidemiological investigation on major depressive disorder in the most heavily damaged areas from Wenchuan earthquake in 2008].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the prevalence, demographic characteristics, risk factors and protective factors on major depression disorder (MDD) among the affected people in the epicenter, 7 months after the 2008-earthquake in Wenchuan, China. METHODS: Stratified multistage cluster randomization was conducted to choose 14 503 subjects aged 15 years or over in the city of Dujiangyan, Beichuan county and Qingchuan county, Sichuan province. We used the general health questionnaire (GHQ-12) as the screening instrument, and the structured clinical interview for DSM-IV-TR axis I disorder-patient edition (SCID-I/P) as the tool for diagnosis. RESULTS: There were 180 persons diagnosed as MDD with other 13 asymptomatic ones. The point prevalence of MDD was 1.27% and the lifetime prevalence was 1.36%. Risk factors were including:being female (OR = 1.56, 95%CI: 1.136 ∼ 2.143, P < 0.05), co-morbidity with somatic diseases (OR = 4.02, 95%CI: 2.75 - 5.90, P < 0.05), wounded in the earthquake (OR = 3.29, 95%CI: 1.92 - 5.65, P < 0.05), property loss up to 10 000 - 20 000 Yuan (OR = 2.09, 95%CI: 1.18 - 3.69, P < 0.05), property loss up to > 20 000 Yuan (OR = 2.54, 95% CI: 1.38 - 4.68, P < 0.05), death or missing of family members (OR = 3.79, 95%CI: 2.08 - 6.89, P < 0.05) and in middle-age (OR = 2.31, 95%CI: 1.38 - 3.86, P < 0.05) etc. Having had a job seemed to be a protective factor (OR = 0.60, 95%CI: 0.43 - 0.83, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Major depressive disorder appeared to be a common psychiatric disease in these quake-stricken areas, that causing serious problems. Sustained follow-up and care provided to the affected people in these areas were of extreme importance.