Changes of family structure and treatment status of people with severe mental illness in rural China: a comparative study from 1994 to 2015

BackgroundAlthough it is crucial to improve the treatment status of people with severe mental illness (SMI), it is still unknown whether and how socioeconomic development influences their treatment status.AimsTo explore the change in treatment status in people with SMI from 1994 to 2015 in rural China and to examine the factors influencing treatment status in those with SMI.MethodTwo mental health surveys using identical methods and ICD-10 were conducted in 1994 and 2015 (population ≥15 years old, n = 152 776) in the same six townships of Xinjin County, Chengdu, China.ResultsCompared with 1994, individuals with SMI in 2015 had significantly higher rates of poor family economic status, fewer family caregivers, longer duration of illness, later age at first onset and poor mental status. Participants in 2015 had significantly higher rates of never being treated, taking antipsychotic drugs and ever being admitted to hospital, and lower rates of using traditional Chinese medicine or being treated by traditional/spiritual healers. The factors strongly associated with never being treated included worse mental status (symptoms/social functioning), older age, having no family caregivers and poor family economic status.ConclusionsSocioeconomic development influences the treatment status of people with SMI in contemporary rural China. Relative poverty, having no family caregivers and older age are important factors associated with a worse treatment status. Culture-specific, community-based interventions and targeted poverty-alleviation programmes should be developed to improve the early identification, treatment and recovery of individuals with SMI in rural China.Declaration of interestNone.

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Managing Disability Benefits as Part of Treatment for Persons with Severe Mental Illness and Comorbid Drug/Alcohol Disorders:A Comparative Study of Payee and Non-Payee Participants

American Journal on Addictions ◽

10.3109/10550499709005064 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 6 (4) ◽

pp. 330-338 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Richard K. Ries ◽

Katherine Anne Comtois

Keyword(s):

Mental Illness ◽

Comparative Study ◽

Severe Mental Illness ◽

Disability Benefits

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Household poverty in people with severe mental illness in rural China: 1994–2015

BJPsych Open ◽

10.1192/bjo.2020.95 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 6 (5) ◽

Author(s):

Yue-Hui Yu ◽

Wei Luo ◽

Man-Xi He ◽

Xin Yang ◽

Bo Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Mental Illness ◽

Severe Mental Illness ◽

Socioeconomic Development ◽

Rural China ◽

Work And Family ◽

Factors Associated ◽

Household Poverty ◽

Poor Households ◽

Icd 10

Background Little is known about poverty trends in people with severe mental illness (SMI) over a long time span, especially under conditions of fast socioeconomic development. Aims This study aims to unravel changes in household poverty levels among people with SMI in a fast-changing rural community in China. Method Two mental health surveys, using ICD-10, were conducted in the same six townships of Xinjin county, Chengdu, China. A total of 711 and 1042 people with SMI identified in 1994 and 2015, respectively, participated in the study. The Foster-Greer-Thorbecke poverty index was adopted to measure the changes in household poverty. These changes were decomposed into effects of growth and equity using a static decomposition method. Factors associated with household poverty in 1994 and 2015 were examined and compared by regression analyses. Results The proportion of poor households, as measured by the headcount ratio, increased significantly from 29.8% in 1994 to 39.5% in 2015. Decomposition showed that poverty in households containing people with SMI had worsened because of a redistribution effect. Factors associated with household poverty had also changed during the study period. The patient's age, ability to work and family size were of paramount significance in 2015. Conclusions This study shows that the levels of poverty faced by households containing people with SMI has become more pressing with China's fast socioeconomic development. It calls for further integration of mental health recovery and targeted antipoverty interventions for people with SMI as a development priority.

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