Protocols for Population-Based Surveys Conducted to Assess the Prevalence of Mental Disorders in Islamic Republic of Iran

In the age of sustainable development, paying attention to the quality and quantity of health information is important for designing interventions. The burden of mental disorders has been increasing over the last decade. Therefore, the development of information-gathering systems in this field is necessary. The aim of this study was to evaluate the status of population-based national surveys conducted to assess the status of mental disorders in Iran. This is a review study. The data were obtained from published reports and articles on population-based surveys in international and national databases in both Persian and English. Surveys conducted to assess the status of mental disorders were retrieved and their target groups, used tools, sampling methods, and sample sizes were evaluated and compared. In Iran, four population-based surveys were conducted to assess the status of mental disorders in 1999, 2001, 2011, and 1394. These surveys were performed using different tools and target populations, and among these four surveys, only two studies were similar. According to the results, evaluating the trends in mental disorders in society is currently associated with difficulties. Performing future surveys with similar tools is essential.