EFFECTS OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE ON MENTAL HEALTH STATUS OF ELDERLY COMMUNITY RESIDENTS IN SHANGHAI, CHINA

GUILAI ZHAN, CHENHU LI, LIYU ZHAO, TING LI

Mental Health Center of Xuhui District, Shanghai 200232, China

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of community mental health services on the mental health status of elderly community residents in China. Elderly residents (n = 2,000; ≥ 60 years) were randomly selected based on recommendations by the residents' committee and family doctors and assigned to either an observational or control group. The Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale (GAD-7), and General Well-Being Schedule (GWB) were used to evaluate the mental health of the subjects at baseline and at the end of months 6 and 12, respectively. The analysis of the PHQ-9, GAD-7, GWB scores in the observation group found that PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores gradually decreased, GWB score gradually increased and the change had statistically significant differences (F = 1603.272, 653.680, 2158.862; P < 0.001 for all). After 12 months, compared the control group, the scores of subscale in GWB satisfaction and interest in life, worries about health, depressed versus cheerful mood, and relaxation versus tension (anxiety) were significantly better (P < 0.001). Community mental health service could effectively improve the mental health status of aged community residents, and prolonged community mental health service could result in better outcomes.