Approved Research

The impact of environmental factors on the occurrence and development of mental disorders

Lay summary

This research aims to analyze the effects of environmental factors on the occurrence and development of mental disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, depression), and to elucidate the combination and interaction effects between environmental factors and individual characteristics, behavioral factors, and to construct a predictive model for mental disorders based on machine learning.

Meanwhile, we will explore the possible mechanisms by which environmental factors influence mental illnesses through mediation analysis and other models. We try to do these as mental disorders is one of the top 10 causes of disease burden globally, and between 1990 and 2019,  the global proportion of DALYs attributable to mental disorders increased significantly.

Recently, emerging evidence has suggested that environmental factors may play important roles in  influencing the risk of mental disorders. However, evidence from relevant population-based epidemiologic studies remains insufficient, especially for large samples. The duration of the project is estimated to take approximately three years.

We believe that this study will comprehensively analyze the impact of environmental factors on mental illnesses,  and provide a basis for constructing a prediction model for the occurrence and development of mental illness. Findings will benefit public health policy developmen and help reduce the burden of mental Illness eventually. Moreover, in the context of global climate change and carbon neutrality, the results of the study will contribute to the formulation of relevant environmental policies.