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Abstract

Background

Mental illness is a collective term for conditions of different severity. The conditions include anxiety, sleeping disorders, depression, anxiety disorder, autism and ADHD (Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder). Mental illness is a public health problem that has increased over the past ten years and problems with mental illness occur in both men and women in different educational and age groups.

Aim 

The purpose of this review was to compile the research that has been done on mental illness in the Stockholm region using the regional administrative healthcare database VAL.

Method 

A literature search was performed in the PubMed database and additional articles identified through reference lists and contact with researchers who published articles with the database. The studies covered a publication date between the years 2000 and 2021. A total of 960 studies were identified, of which 13 met the eligibility criteria and were included in the project.

Results

The literature compilation shows that depression, anxiety, and stress disorders were the most common diagnoses among mental illness. Co-morbidity between mental illness and somatic diseases is common and the prevalence of mental illness increased with the number of somatic diseases. The studies also showed the connection between socio-economics and mental illness, mental illness was less common in those with a socio-economically favorable position.

Conclusion 

The literature review shows that the VAL-database can be useful to study mental illness in the entire population. Mentall illness is common and a large and complicated area with many affected factors, including socio-economics. Preventive measures are needed to improve mental health in the population.