Mortality Due to Mental and Behavioral Disorders in Iran from 2011 to 2017

 Mental and behavioral disorders might lead to several other diseases and are one the causes of mortality. This study aimed to study the sex and age distribution of deaths due to mental illness in Iran during 2011-2017.

Data were extracted from the Iran death registry developed by the Iran's Vital Registration Organization. As such based on the international classification of diseases-10 [ICD-10] deaths from mental and behavioral disorders were analyzed. The percentage of each cause is determined by gender and age. The sex ratio index and years of life lost (YLL) due to premature death were estimated by age and sex.

There were about 1,082 deaths from mental and behavioral disorders, giving a rate of 25 deaths in one million of population. The mortality rate has increased by about 25% over the period 2011-2017, and this increase was higher for men than for women. Death rate due to mental and behavioral disorders were higher for women over the age of 20 to 35 and higher for men over the age of 35 to 50. Calculating the index of YLL indicated that, the premature death due to mental and behavioral disorders led to the loss of 26064 person-year for the country in 2016.

Although deaths from mental illness and behavioral disorders in Iran were low, it seems that it needs serious attention. The occurrence of these deaths at young ages among women and adulthood among men suggest that economic and social conditions might have a role.