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Prevalence, psychosocial correlates and service utilization of depressive and anxiety disorders in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS)

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Abstract

Purpose

Data on mental disorder prevalence and health service utilization required to inform healthcare management and planning are lacking in Hong Kong. The current study determined the prevalence of common mental disorders (CMD), and examined the patterns of mental health service utilization and associated factors.

Methods

We analyzed data from the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS) of 5,719 Chinese adults aged 16–75 years in the general Hong Kong population, using the Chinese Revised Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS-R).

Results

The weighted prevalence estimate for any past-week CMD was 13.3 %, with mixed anxiety and depressive disorder being the most frequent diagnoses. CMD was positively associated with female gender, being divorced or separated, alcohol misuse, substance dependence, lack of regular physical exercise, and a family history of mental disorder. Among individuals with CMD, only 26 % had consulted mental health services in the past year; less than 10 % consulted general practitioners or family physicians. Lack of mental health service usage was significantly more likely in men and those with lower educational attainment.

Conclusions

Apart from attention to psychosocial risks, health and lifestyle factors are important considerations for mental health promotion. Service utilization for individuals with CMD in Hong Kong remains suboptimal, and would be enhanced by strengthening community primary care.

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Acknowledgments

The Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey is a commissioned project supported by the Health and Health Services Research Fund (Ref: 09101601), Food and Health Bureau, Hong Kong SAR Government. We would like to thank the participants for their enthusiastic support to this survey.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China

    Linda Chiu-Wa Lam, Min-Jung Wang & Helen Fung-Kum Chiu

  2. Department of Psychiatry, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China

    Corine Sau-Man Wong, Wai-Chi Chan, Eric Yu-Hai Chen, Pak-Chung Sham, Wing-Chung Chang & Edwin Ho-Ming Lee

  3. Department of Psychiatry, Kowloon Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China

    Roger Man-Kin Ng

  4. Department of Psychiatry, Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China

    Se-Fong Hung

  5. Department of Psychiatry, Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China

    Eric Fuk-Chi Cheung, Ming Lam & Tin-Po Chiang

  6. Jockey Club School of Public Health and Primary Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, People’s Republic of China

    Joseph Tak-Fai Lau

  7. Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Maastricht University Medical Centre, Maastricht, The Netherlands

    Jim van Os

  8. Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, United Kingdom

    Glyn Lewis & Paul Bebbington

Authors
  1. Linda Chiu-Wa Lam
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  2. Corine Sau-Man Wong
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  3. Min-Jung Wang
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  4. Wai-Chi Chan
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  6. Roger Man-Kin Ng
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  7. Se-Fong Hung
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  9. Pak-Chung Sham
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  10. Helen Fung-Kum Chiu
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  11. Ming Lam
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  12. Wing-Chung Chang
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  13. Edwin Ho-Ming Lee
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  14. Tin-Po Chiang
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  15. Joseph Tak-Fai Lau
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  16. Jim van Os
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  17. Glyn Lewis
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  18. Paul Bebbington
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Linda Chiu-Wa Lam.

HKMMS team researchers (in alphabetical order)

HKMMS team researchers (in alphabetical order)

Chario C.C. Chan1, L.K. Chan2, W.H. Cheung2, Patricia W.Y. Choi2, Kavin K.W. Chow3, Paulina P.L. Chow3, Jackie C.K. Fu3, Ada W.T. Fung4, Karen S.Y. Hung3, C.S. Kan5, Condy H.S. Kwan2, Gary K.W. Lau6, Allen T.C. Lee6, Grace T.Y. Leung6, Joey S.Y. Leung2, Bonnie W.M. Siu3, Winki W.K. Tai6, Fiona Y.K. Tam7, Victoria W.K. Tang3, C.K. Tung3, Candy H.Y. Wong6, Amy S.W. Yeung3, Zoe H.S. Yu2.

1. Department of Psychiatry, Shatin Hospital, Hong Kong SAR.

2. Department of Psychiatry, Kwai Chung Hospital, Hong Kong SAR.

3. Department of Psychiatry, Castle Peak Hospital, Hong Kong SAR.

4. Department of Psychiatry, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.

5. Department of Psychiatry, Kowloon Hospital, Hong Kong SAR.

6. Department of Psychiatry, Tai Po Hospital, Hong Kong SAR.

7. Department of Psychiatry, Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong SAR.

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Lam, L.CW., Wong, C.SM., Wang, MJ. et al. Prevalence, psychosocial correlates and service utilization of depressive and anxiety disorders in Hong Kong: the Hong Kong Mental Morbidity Survey (HKMMS). Soc Psychiatry Psychiatr Epidemiol 50, 1379–1388 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-015-1014-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00127-015-1014-5

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