TY - JOUR PY - 2016// TI - A systematic review of anxiety prevalence in adults within primary care and community settings in Malaysia JO - Asian journal of psychiatry A1 - Wong, Chin Hoong A1 - Sultan Shah, Zia U. Bakt A1 - Teng, Cheong Lieng A1 - Lin, Tzi Quen A1 - Majeed, Zainab Abdul A1 - Chan, Chun Wai SP - 110 EP - 117 VL - 24 IS - N2 - BACKGROUND: Anxiety disorders are common mental health disorders with significant impact on the individual as well as burden on the country as a whole.

METHODS: A systematic review of databases, reference lists, internet sources, and input from content experts revealed 42 studies that documented the prevalence of anxiety symptoms or disorders. 12 of these studies specifically evaluated anxiety disorders.

RESULTS: 4 studies looked at the prevalence of anxiety disorders in the general population, whilst the remainder focused on selected population groups: university students (4 studies); substance abuse (3 studies); and victims of abuse (1 study). Studies in the general population showed that the prevalence of generalised anxiety disorder was 0.4-5.6%, mixed anxiety and depression were 3-5%, panic without agoraphobia 0.4%, phobia unspecified 0.5-%, and anxiety not-otherwise-specified 0.3-6.5%. We found significant variability in anxiety disorders in the studies in selected population groups. The variability could also have been affected by methodological factors within each study.

CONCLUSION: This study provides a broad overview of the prevalence of anxiety disorders in Malaysia. More research is required to develop diagnostic instruments that are validated for local use and comparable with international standards. Reliable prevalence estimates are lacking within certain groups, e.g. those in rural, indigenous, migrant population groups and those exposed to natural disasters.

Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1876-2018 UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajp.2016.08.020 ID - ref1 ER -