Study suggests 14% adolescents in Patiala have behavioral problems

CHANDIGARH: A recent study published in the Indian Psychiatry Journal points out that a large number of school going adolescents from Patiala district are suffering from different emotional and behavioral problems. About 1000 students aged between 11 and 16, from both urban and rural areas were selected for the study on the prevalence of psychiatric morbidity among adolescents in rural and urban areas.

The students were from both private and government schools who represent both the upper and lower socioeconomic strata of the society. The students were examined through a questionnaire.

Of total samples, 134 (14.7%) individuals were found to be abnormal, 233 (25.5%) borderline and 545 (59.8%) normal. Individuals who scored abnormal or borderline were further evaluated for the diagnosis of psychiatric morbidity in second stage by clinical interview, detailed case history, and mental state examination.

The overall prevalence of psychiatric disorders was found in 96 students in the rural area which accounts to 21.38% of total number while 90 students from urban areas (19.43%) showed signs of disorders.

In rural adolescents, somatoform disorders was found in 20 samples (4.45%), conduct disorder in 17 (3.78%), anxiety in 15 samples (3.24%) whereas higher rates of depression was found in 18 samples (3.88%), anxiety in 17 (3.67%), and hyperkinetic disorders 14 samples (3.02%) were found in urban counterparts. The overall prevalence among boys was 17.50% and among girls 24.12%.

The study was conducted by Mehak Garg Pahwa with the help of department of psychiatry and department of community medicine of Rajindra Hospital, Patiala.

Balwant Singh Sidhu from department of psychiatry Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, said that findings of the study point out about the existing but there is no excess of formal mental illness reaching the psychiatrist. “The prevalence rate of psychiatric morbidity ranging from 17.94% to 22.17% for the entire sample points out that the prevalence rates among adolescents are increasing over time,” said Sidhu. He further added that many teenagers experience such symptoms but are not reported. The study should help in formulating a rational basis for deploying resources for the treatment and prevention of mental illness in future adults.

The study was conducted in two steps. In the first step, to study the psychiatric morbidity, the strength and difficulties questionnaire (SDQ) self‑report version and parent version was used. Students who scored borderline or abnormal on SDQ, were further evaluated in next stage by clinical interview, detailed case history, and mental state examination. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed following International Classification of Diseases‑10 (ICD‑10) criteria.