National screening for anxiety and depression in Saudi Arabia 2022

Frontiers in Public Health

Public Health

Nora A. Althumiri¹  Nasser F. BinDhim²  Rashed Abdullah Al-Duraihem³  Abdulhameed Abdullah Alhabeeb³  Saeed Alasmary³  Zaied Alkhamaali⁴ 

[1] Informed Decision-Making for Research and Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Informed Decision-Making for Research and Studies, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;College of medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;National Centre for Mental Health Promotion, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;Saudi Food and Drug Authority, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia;

关键词: mental health;    depression;    anxiety;    screening;    Saudi Arabia;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpubh.2023.1213851

 received in 2023-04-28, accepted in 2023-06-13,  发布年份 2023

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundMental health disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), represent a significant public health concern in Saudi Arabia. This study aims to provide a recent mental health screening prevalence, including anxiety and depression screening in the general public and to explore the associated risk factors.MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted, employing a phone interview survey with 6,015 participants, using a quota sampling strategy to ensure equal representation of both sexes and administrative regions. The study assessed the prevalence of MDD and GAD risk and examined demographic, socioeconomic, and lifestyle factors associated with these mental health disorders.ResultsThe national prevalence of people at risk of MDD and GAD were found to be 12.7 and 12.4%, respectively. Low diagnosis and treatment rates were observed, with only 1.5 and 0.5% of participants currently diagnosed and treated for depression and anxiety, respectively. Risk factors for MDD and GAD included female sex, lower education and income levels, smoking, and waterpipe use. Protective factors included physical activity, participation in volunteering activities and the practice of daily hobbies in the last 30 days.ConclusionThe relatively high prevalence of MDD and GAD risk and low diagnosis and treatment rates in Saudi Arabia emphasize the need for increased mental health promotion, early detection, and treatment accessibility. The study highlights the importance of addressing modifiable risk factors and fostering protective factors through targeted interventions. Future research should focus on longitudinal associations, potential mediators and moderators, and the development of culturally appropriate and evidence-based interventions to enhance mental health outcomes in the region.

【 授权许可】

Unknown   
Copyright © 2023 Alhabeeb, Al-Duraihem, Alasmary, Alkhamaali, Althumiri and BinDhim.