Severe role impairment associated with mental disorders: Results of the WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project
Alonso, J Mortier, P Auerbach, R.P Bruffaerts, R Vilagut, G Cuijpers, P Demyttenaere, K Ebert, D.D Ennis, E Gutiérrez-García, R.A
Alonso, J
Mortier, P
Auerbach, R.P
Bruffaerts, R
Vilagut, G
Cuijpers, P
Demyttenaere, K
Ebert, D.D
Ennis, E
Gutiérrez-García, R.A
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Abstract
Background: College entrance is a stressful period with a high prevalence of mental disorders.
Aims: To assess the role impairment associated with 12-month mental disorders among incoming first-year college students within a large cross-national sample.
Methods: Web-based self-report surveys assessing the prevalence of DSM-IV mental disorders and health-related role impairment (Sheehan Disability Scale) were obtained and analyzed from 13,984 incoming first-year college students (Response = 45.5%), across 19 universities in eight countries. Impairment was assessed in the following domains: home management, work (e.g., college-related problems), close personal relationships, and social life.
Results: Mean age of the sample was 19.3 (SD = 0.59) and 54.4% were female. Findings showed that 20.4% of students reported any severe role impairment (10% of those without a mental disorder vs. 42.9% of those with at least one disorder, P < 0.01). In bivariate analyses, panic disorder, and mania were associated most frequently with severe impairment (60.6% and 57.5%, respectively). Students reporting three or more mental disorders had almost fivefold more frequently severe impairment relative to those without mental disorders. Multiple logistic regression showed that major depression (OR = 4.0; 95%CI = 3.3, 4.8), generalized anxiety (OR = 3.9; 95%CI = 3.1, 4.8), and panic disorder (OR = 2.9; 95%CI 2.4, 4.2) were associated with the highest odds of severe impairment. Only minimal deviations from these overall associations were found across countries.
Conclusion: Mental disorders among first-year college students are associated with substantial role impairment. Providing preventative interventions targeting mental disorders and associated impairments is a critical need for institutions to address.
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Date
2018-05-30
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Wiley
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Keywords
anxiety disorders,depression,disability,drug use disorders,intimate relationships,role impairment,social function,suicide/self-harm,university students
Citation
Alonso J, Mortier P, Auerbach RP, Bruffaerts R, Vilagut G, Cuijpers P, Demyttenaere K, Ebert DD, Ennis E, Gutiérrez-García RA, Green JG, Hasking P, Lochner C, Nock MK, Pinder-Amaker S, Sampson NA, Zaslavsky AM, Kessler RC; WHO WMH-ICS Collaborators. Severe role impairment associated with mental disorders: Results of the WHO World Mental Health Surveys International College Student Project. Depress Anxiety. 2018 Sep;35(9):802-814. doi: 10.1002/da.22778.