Global Functioning among Persons with Mental Illness at Tertiary Care Centers of Western Rajasthan: A Descriptive Study

A BSTRACT Background: Global functioning is a crucial measure of how mental illness impacts daily life. Assessing functional impairment helps determine the severity of disability and guides the development of appropriate interventions. However, limited research has explored functional impairment among individuals with mental illness in tertiary care settings in Western Rajasthan. Objective: This study aims to assess global functioning in individuals with mental illness and examine its association with demographic variables. Materials and Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional study was conducted among 105 individuals attending the psychiatric outpatient department at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Jodhpur. Participants aged 18–60 years were selected through convenience sampling. Data were collected using a sociodemographic and clinical profile, as well as the 12-item World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS) 2.0. Descriptive statistics and Fisher’s exact test were used for analysis. Ethical approval was obtained (AIIMS/IEC/2024/9126). Results: Participants had a mean age of 35.15 ± 11.37 years; 54.3% were males, 68.6% were married, and 61.9% resided in rural areas. Educational levels varied, with 31.4% holding a university education, while unemployment rates were high (61%). Nearly half (49.5%) had a monthly family income of ₹10,000–₹20,000, and 41.9% reported some form of addiction. Clinically, schizophrenia (38.1%) and bipolar disorder (24.8%) were the most common diagnoses. WHODAS 2.0 scores showed that 48.6% had mild, 41.9% moderate, and 9.5% severe functional impairment (mean: 25.81 ± 7.86). No significant association was found between global functioning and any sociodemographic or clinical variables ( P > 0.05). Conclusion: Individuals with mental illness experience considerable functional impairment, irrespective of sociodemographic or clinical characteristics. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive psychosocial rehabilitation and structured long-term support. Future longitudinal studies should identify predictors of disability to guide targeted interventions.