Regional features of the dynamics of overall morbidity due to mental disorders among employees of the internal affairs bodies of the Russian Federation in Moscow

BACKGROUND: Preserving mental health and extending the professional longevity of law enforcement personnel in the Russian Federation are among the primary goals of the departmental healthcare system. A comprehensive analysis of not only primary but also overall morbidity is relevant for improving preventive and therapeutic interventions. Considering the influence of extreme factors and the specifics of official duties, an analysis of trends over time of mental disorder morbidity should take into account regional characteristics.

AIM: The work aimed to analyze the trends in the overall morbidity of mental disorders among law enforcement personnel of Russian Federation, as exemplified by the city of Moscow.

METHODS: The study is based on official reporting data from medical institutions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation in Moscow over a 16-year period. Indicators of overall morbidity due to mental disorders and work incapacity were analyzed in employees with official ranks. Calculations were performed per 1,000 personnel (‰). The main categories of ICD-10 Chapter V were assessed. Additionally, indicators of temporal change such as absolute growth, growth and increase rates, base index, and correlation coefficients between overall mental disorder morbidity and work incapacity were evaluated.

RESULTS: From 2008 to 2022, a general upward trend in overall morbidity due to mental disorders was observed, mainly due to an increase in cases of neurotic, stress-related, and somatoform disorders. At the same time, morbidity rates for behavioral disorders associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors, as well as personality and behavioral disorders in adults, remained consistently low and did not exceed 0.33‰. The overall morbidity rate for mental disorders ranged from 7.00 to 11.24‰. Simultaneously, a steady decrease in the number of cases and days of temporary work incapacity was recorded, along with stabilization in the average duration of a single incapacity case. A strong positive correlation was found (r = 0.91) between mental disorder morbidity and work incapacity rates.

CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate significant variability in overall mental disorder morbidity among law enforcement personnel in Moscow, with stress-related and neurotic disorders being the main contributors to the upward trend. At the same time, a decrease in the number of work incapacity cases and days, along with stabilization of their average duration, was noted. These changes may be influenced by a range of factors, from organizational to demographic, including changes in staff composition and approaches to diagnosis and registration of mental disorders. The increased detection of mental disorders, against the backdrop of reduced stigmatization and improved access to specialized care, calls for further research using mathematical and statistical methods. The findings may serve as a basis for improving mental health monitoring and developing comprehensive mental health prevention programs within law enforcement agencies of the Russian Federation.