Burden of mental disorders: Evidence from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023

Mental disorders contribute significantly to the global disease burden, with marked regional variations. This study provides the most up-to-date assessment of trends in the burden of mental disorders worldwide and in China and compares the burden of mental disorders between China and other regions.

We conducted a descriptive secondary analysis of publicly available estimates from the updated Global Burden of Disease Study 2023 (GBD 2023) for the period 1990-2023, covering the 6 World Health Organization (WHO) regions and China. We summarized prevalence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPRs), and age-standardized DALY rates (ASDRs) by year, region, age, and sex. Future trends were projected using a Bayesian age-period-cohort model with second-order random-walk priors, and uncertainty was described using 95% uncertainty or credible intervals.

In 2023, 1171.64 million people suffered from mental disorders globally, resulting in 171.27 million DALYs. China accounted for 16.32% of global cases and 15.39% of global DALYs, ranking second worldwide for both measures. In China, mental disorders were the fourth leading cause of DALYs. Among these, anxiety and depressive disorders were the most prevalent and the leading contributors to the burden. From 2010 to 2023, the ASDR increased by 16.18%, with the largest increase in anxiety disorders (38.37%), eating disorders (21.84%), and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs, 21.20%). Anxiety and depressive disorders were more prevalent in females, whereas attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), ASDs, and conduct disorders were more prevalent in males. Although the burden was concentrated on older adults, notable increases were also observed among young people. By 2035, the numbers of mental disorder cases and associated DALYs in China are projected to reach 209.6 million and 28.7 million, respectively.

China faces a growing burden of mental health issues, particularly anxiety disorders, eating disorders, and ASD. Immediate development and implementation of comprehensive strategies are crucial to address the escalating mental health crisis in China.