Abstract
BACKGROUND: Although the World Health Organization established in ther well known and foundational affirmation that health is a state of absolute physical, mental and social well-being and not only the absence of disease or infirmity, mental health is considered more than the absence of mental disease or mental infirmity. Prevalence of mental and behavioral disorders (MBD) in Mexico oscilates between 15 and 18%. The occurrence of these diseases is the support for making decisions aimed at improving the medical care and well-being of the psychiatric patient. OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of MBD in population affiliated to the Mexican Institute for Social Security (IMSS) in 2021. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Cross-sectional and observational study. We examined the Census of Mental and Behavioral Disorders in Population affiliated to IMSS in 2021. All the cases of the census were included: 2,652,531. RESULTS: The prevalence of MBD was 9.3%. The higher prevalence was reported for anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (39.8%). The highest prevalence was reported in the Michoacán Administrative Operation Office (AOO) (67.7%, 95% CI 67.5-68.0), then the Aguascalientes and Guerrero AOOs (64.6%, 95% CI 64.2-64.9 and 60.1%, 95% CI 59.7-60.5, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of MBD in the population affiliated to IMSS is 9.3%. Estimating that prevalence may help healthcare professionals to provide a better follow-up and traceability in the care for these patients.