Prevalence of anxiety disorders among the first visit adult psychiatric outpatient clinic: A pre COVID clinical study.

Abstract

Background: Anxiety disorders (ADs) are frequently underrecognized by individuals experiencing symptoms and clinicians, despite their notable prevalence in tertiary care settings (12.9%-28.9%).

Aim: To assess the current prevalence and socio-clinical correlates of ADs in the psychiatric outpatient department of a quaternary care hospital.

Materials and methods: A total of 400 adult outpatients were recruited from September 2016 to October 2017. Diagnoses were made using Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Mental Disorders-IV-TR criteria via the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview Plus version 5.0.0, along with a semi-structured interview. Patients diagnosed primarily with an AD were further assessed using the Clinical Global Impression-Severity scale and the Sheehan Disability Scale. Prevalence rates and associations were analyzed using Pearson's Chi-square or Fisher's Exact Test, with significance set at 5%.

Results: The current prevalence of ADs was 12.75%. Of these, 75% were male and 67% were married. Most belonged to the 18-30 (37.3%) and 31-45 (47.1%) age groups. A majority (57%) came from a middle socio-economic background, and 69% lived in urban areas. Comorbidity was notable, with 57% of individuals with ADs also having common mental disorders, and 46% exhibiting coexisting ADs.

Conclusion: The study highlights a substantial prevalence of ADs in a quaternary care psychiatric outpatient setting.