Role impairment of patients with mental disorders and physical diseases in China: Results from the China Mental Health Survey

BACKGROUND: Role impairment due to health problems is a public health issue. China Mental Health Survey (CMHS) is a national epidemiological study in China, providing plenty of information on mental disorders and physical diseases.This study focused on the association between mental disorders and physical diseases with role impairment. METHODS: This study was based on CMHS, a cross-sectional study in a large-scale nationally representative sample across China from 2012 to 2015. Trained interviewers carried out face-to-face interviews with 28,140 respondents using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview-3.0 (CIDI-3.0). The prevalence of mental disorders and physical diseases was assessed. In addition, each respondent reported information about the number of days in the past month being totally and partially unable to work or carry out their other normal daily activities because of problems with either mental disorders or physical diseases. Associations of role impairment with physical diseases and mental disorders were analyzed by multiple regression. RESULTS: Overall, the weighted rate of role impairment was 3.68% in patients with any mental disorders and 8.75% in those with any physical diseases. Chronic pain (β = 0.07, P <0.001) became the main physical disease associated with role impairment, while depressive disorder (β = 0.12, P <0.001) became the main mental disorder associated with role impairment. Patients with more mental disorders or physical diseases experienced more days with role impairment. CONCLUSIONS: Common mental disorders and physical diseases account for a large proportion of the number of days out of role. It should be addressed to substantially increase the level of mental health in China.