The Situation of Mental Disorders in San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

This retrospective descriptive study aimed to examine the situations and distributions of mental disorders according to personal, geographical, and temporal factors in San Sai District, Chiang Mai Province, during the fiscal years 2019–2021. The study found a total of 20,633 cumulative service visits and 4,048 new cases. The highest number of service visits occurred in 2021, while the highest number of new cases was reported in 2019. Nong Han Subdistrict had the highest number of patients, whereas San Pa Pao Subdistrict had the lowest one. The five most common diagnostic groups were mood [affective] disorders (F30–F39); mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use (F10–F19); schizophrenia, schizotypal, delusional, and other non-mood psychotic disorders (F20–F29); neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders (F40–F48); and organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders (F00–F09), respectively. Male patients outnumbered females, with mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use being the most prevalent among males, and mood [affective] disorders being the most common among females. Age-specific distribution revealed that children aged 0–5 and 6–14 years had similar proportions of disorders of psychological development (F80–F89) and behavioural and emotional disorders with onset usually occurring in childhood and adolescence (F90–F98). Mood [affective] disorders were most common in the 15–24 age group; mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use predominated among those aged 25–59 years; and organic, including symptomatic, mental disorders were most frequent in individuals aged 60 years and older. The findings indicate an increasing trend of mental disorders in San Sai District, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, consistent with patterns observed at the provincial and national levels. Mood [affective] disorders and mental and behavioural disorders due to psychoactive substance use were identified as the primary conditions requiring targeted surveillance.