Armaghane Danesh Bimonthly Journal (Jan 2007)
Comparison of Anxiety and Depression in Laundered and Unlaundered Nomads of Ashori Family of Ghashghaie Community
Abstract
ABSTRACT: Introduction & Objective: Non laundered nomad populations in Iran experience more adverse living circumstances than laundered populations, but there is little research regarding the prevalence of mental health disorders of them. This study investigated the prevalence of depression and anxiety in laundered versus unlaundered nomads. Materials & Methods: 95 people of unlaundered nomads and 86 people of laundered nomads from Ashori family of Ghasghaee were assessed using Hamilton anxiety rating scale and Beck depression rating scale. The results were analyzed by SPSS software using chi - square test. Results: The depression rate in unlaundered nomads included 33.7% normal, 29.5 % mild and 36.5 % moderate and severe, but in laundered nomads, 84.7% were normal, 8.2% were mild and 7.1% were moderate and severe. The difference is statistically significant. The anxiety rate in unlaundered nomads proved to be 43.2% normal, 38.9% mild and 17.9 % moderate and severe, but in laundered nomads 87.2% were normal, 7% were mild and 5.7% were moderate and severe. The difference is statistically significant too. Depression rate in married uneducated and female subjects were more than those in singles and males in both laundered and unlaundered nomad. Anxiety rate in married uneducated and male subjects were more than those in singles and females in both laundered and unlaundered nomad. Conclusion: Depression and anxiety rates in unlaundered nomads were more than those in laundered nomads and these rates are higher than the national rates. These rates were more in married, group aged over 30 and in those with low education.
