National and subnational burden of mental disorders in China, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
Age-standardized prevalence of mental disorders in China rose from 1990 to 2023.
National and subnational burden of mental disorders in China, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
Mental disorders represent a growing public health priority in China.
Following the GBD 2023 methodology, we systematically analyzed epidemiological and demographic data to assess the prevalence, disability-adjusted life year (disability-adjusted life year), age-standardized prevalence rate (age-standardized prevalence rate) and age-standardized disability-adjusted life year rate (age-standardized DALY rate) for mental disorders and ten subtypes in China and its 33 provincial-level administrative units from 1990 to 2023.
The age-standardized DALY rate reached 1718 (1272, 2307) per 100,000, rising by 18.4% (5.3, 36.9) over the past three decades.
Depressive and anxiety disorders remained the dominant contributors, accounting for 35.6% and 26.3% of overall DALYs attributable to mental disorders, respectively.
Furthermore, eating disorders exhibited the largest growth in age-standardized prevalence rate (63.4% [58.2, 68.2]).
Across the lifespan, the burden of DALYs was relatively higher in the 5-19, 30-39, and 50-59 age groups.
China has witnessed a substantial escalation in the burden of mental disorders over the past three decades.
This complex epidemiological landscape, characterized by distinct regional, sex, and age-specific vulnerabilities, underscores the necessity for structural balancing and targeted life-course interventions.
These up-to-date estimates provide a valuable evidence base for policymakers to further optimize resource allocation and implement tailored life-course interventions within the "Healthy China 2030" framework.