Study of Psychological Distress and Quality of Life in a Rural District of Bangladesh

A significant proportion of global disease attributed to mental and behavioural disorders. People with mental health conditions (MHCs) have lower levels of health-related quality of life. However, there is a lack of evidence in the literature regarding MHCs and screening tools for measuring psychological distress or quality of life. The study recruited 2,425 participants to check current awareness of MHCs and validate the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (K10) and the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) scale in Rural Bangladesh. Participant awareness of MHCs appeared to be very low. The research suggested modifying those scales and proposed the seven-item of K10 and 19-item WHOQOL instead, which would be extremely useful for such screenings in the Bangladeshi context.