The Saudi National Mental Health Survey: Survey instrument and field procedures

Yasmin A. Altwaijri, Abdulhameed Al-Habeeb, Lisa Bilal, Mona K. Shahab, Beth Ellen Pennell, Zeina Mneimneh, Abdulrahman Bin Mummar, Mansoor Baig, Mohamad Talal Naseem, Sanaa Hyder, Luma Akkad, Abdullah S. Al-Subaie*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objectives: To present an overview of the survey and field procedures developed for the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS). Methods: The SNMHS is a face-to-face community epidemiological survey of DSM-IV mental disorders in a nationally representative sample of the household population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) (n = 4,004). The SNMHS was implemented as part of the WHO World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative. WMH carries out coordinated psychiatric epidemiological surveys in countries throughout the world using standardized procedures designed to provide valid cross-national comparative data on prevalence and correlates of common mental disorders. However, these procedures need to be adapted to the unique experiences in each country. We focus here on the adaptations made for the SNMHS. Results: Modifications were needed to several interview sections and expansions were needed to address issues of special policy importance in KSA. Several special field implementation challenges also had to be addressed because of the need for female interviewers to travel with male escorts and for respondents to be interviewed by interviewers of the same gender. Conclusions: Thoughtful revisions led to a high-quality field implementation in the SNMHS.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere1830
JournalInternational Journal of Methods in Psychiatric Research
Volume29
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Sept 2020

Keywords

  • Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI)
  • Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS)
  • World Mental Health (WMH) Survey Initiative

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