Objective: No national mental health survey was conducted in Türkiye
in the last 30 years. We implemented such a survey in a representative
sample of 1.790 adults in the Turkish household population using the
World Mental Health Initiative Composite International Diagnostic
Interview for DSM-5 (CIDI-5). The current report presents data
on 12-month and 30-day prevalence, persistence, severity and
sociodemographic correlates of disorders in this Turkish World Mental
Health (WMH) Survey.
Methods: Adults in a nationally representative sample of 4.067 Turkish
households were selected for interview in October 2019. Fieldwork
ended prematurely on March 17, 2020, due to COVID-19 pandemic
travel restrictions. The 1.790 interviews completed as of that date
represent a survey cooperation rate of 44.0% and a survey response rate
of 25.6%.
Results: The 12-month and 30-day prevalences of any DSM-5/CIDI
disorder were 23.9% and 18.3%, respectively. Anxiety disorders (17.2%)
were the most common class of disorders followed by mood disorders
(12.4%). Most profiles were either severe (32.8%) or moderate (43.8%).
Anxiety and mood disorders were more common among females than
males, while externalizing disorders were more common among males
than females. Overall disorder prevalence was associated with being
female, younger age and low education.
Conclusion: Nearly 1 in 4 Turkish adults meet criteria for one or more
common 12-month DSM-5 disorders. These results underscore the
need for improved mental health services for vulnerable groups and
for longitudinal research to understand the mental health effects of
stressors such as the COVID-19 pandemic, forced migration, or the
recent earthquakes.
Keywords: DSM-5, epidemiology, mental health, prevalence, Türkiye