Background and Aim: There are no occupational health data concerning the prevalence of mental disorders in Iranian hospital nurses. Such information may be a prerequisite for efficient occupational mental health interventions. The aim of this study was to determine mental health status among shift work hospital nurses.

Materials and Methods: This paper reports the findings of a cross-sectional survey that was part of a larger quasi-experimental study. We selected and evaluated 1195 nurses in 12 general hospitals in Shiraz (capital of Fars Province), using the 28-item version of the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). We used structured observations in accordance with an occupational health checklist to assess working environment during the work period.

Results: Results indicated that 28.7% of nurses were in poor mental health. Mental disease was more common among females than males (p<0.05). Prevalence rates for anxiety and somatic symptoms were 42.2% and 35.5% respectively. The prevalence of depression was 11.9% and social dysfunction, 79.5%. There was a significant relationship between shift work and anxiety as well as sleep disorders (p< 0.05). Associations were also found between marital status and depression and between gender and social dysfunction (p< 0.001).

Conclusion: Prevalence figures for mental disorders are similar to those from nationwide surveys but it seems that social dysfunction and anxiety disorders are more common in nurses compared to the general population aged 15 and over. More attention must be paid to the health of shift work nurses (especially female staff). This can take the form of shift work health education programs, occupational health counseling, and periodic examinations.