Epidemiological Correlates of Psychological Distress in a Rural Community of South India: A Cross-sectional Study

CONTEXT: Integration of mental health into primary care is essential to establish access to mental health services. Screening the community for psychological distress is the first step. AIMS: The aim of the study was to estimate the burden and the determinants of psychological distress in a rural community. SETTINGS AND DESIGN: This was a community-based cross-sectional study among adult members of a rural community of Nitte Village in Udupi district in Karnataka, South India. METHODOLOGY: Three hundred and ten households were surveyed using the World Health Organization Self-Reported Questionnaire (SRQ). A cutoff value of 8 in SRQ was taken as screening positive. STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED: Descriptive data were analyzed in proportions, whereas Chi-square test and regression analysis were used to explore associations. RESULTS: Hypertension and diabetes were the two common comorbidities. The prevalence of psychological distress was 42.4 per thousand. “Being easily tired” and “feeling tired all the time” were the two most common responses out of the SRQ checklist. Distress was significantly associated with gender, educational status, and marital status. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of psychological distress was 42.4 per thousand, and somatic complaints were common presentations of distress in the study population.