Prevalence and associated risk factors of somatization disorder among Turkish university students at an education faculty

WOS: 000267350900008Objective: There are no studies in the literature investigating the epidemiology of somatization disorder at a large sample group of young adults. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine the lifelong prevalence and possible associated risk factors of somatization disorder among students of Cukurova University Education Faculty. Methods: The study group included 804 students. We first applied a semi-constructed questionnaire of socio-demographic characteristics and General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and then administered the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) part C for the psychiatric diagnosis. Logistic regression analysis was performed in order to evaluate the possible risk factors associated with somatization disorder. Results: Somatization disorder was diagnosed in 62 people (7.7%). Female sex, history of chronic illness, lower educational level of mother and verbal abuse in the family were found to be statistically significant risk factors related with somatization disorder. Conclusion: This study demonstrate a higher prevalence of somatization disorder among a group of university students compared to other prevalence studies of somatization disorder in the general population. Also according to our results there might be some important risk factors for young adults of our country associated with somatization disorder. (Anatolian Journal of Psychiatry 2009; 10: 131-136

Prevalence of obsessive-compulsive disorder in Turkish university students and assessment of associated factors

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Many students who begin university at risky periods for OCD development cannot meet the new challenges successfully. They often seek help and apply to the university health center for psychiatric distress. We aimed to determine the prevalence and associated factors of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) at students of the Cukurova University in this cross sectional study.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was performed in the Cukurova University Faculty of Education with a population of 5500 students; the representative sample size for detecting the OCD prevalence was calculated to be 800. After collecting sociodemographic data, we questioned the students for associated factors of OCD. The General Health Questionnaire-12 (GHQ-12) and Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI, Section K) were used for psychiatric evaluation. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate the linkage between OCD and associated factors.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 804 university students were included in this study. The GHQ-12-positive students (241 students, 29.9%) were interviewed using Section K of the CIDI (222 students, 27.6%). OCD was diagnosed in 33 (4.2%) students. The Logistic regression analysis of the data showed significant associations between OCD and male gender (p:0.036), living on government dormitory (p: 0.003), living on students' house/parental house (p:0.006), having private room in the parental house (p:0.055) and verbal abuse in the family (p:0.006).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study demonstrates a higher prevalence of OCD among a group of university students compared to other prevalence studies of OCD in Turkish society. Furthermore, our findings also suggest relationships between OCD and sociodemographic factors, as well as other environmental stress factors.</p