WHO: Anxiety Is Undertreated Worldwide

A set of recent surveys from the World Health Organization (WHO) have uncovered several global disparities in the identification of anxiety disorders, access to appropriate care, and quality of treatment.

In their study, the researchers evaluated results from 23 World Mental Health (WMH) surveys in 21 countries worldwide (N=51,547; response rate 71.3%).
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The researchers assessed mental and anxiety disorders listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th Edition (DSM-IV). They asked participants whether they felt that they needed professional treatment and whether or not they were actually treated for issues with emotions, nerves, mental health, or drug and/or alcohol use within the previous 12 months.

They defined possibly adequate treatment as the receipt of pharmacotherapy or psychotherapy, complementary alternative medicine, or nonmedical care.

Findings indicated various gaps in the treatment of anxiety disorders worldwide, especially among lower income countries. Approximately 9.8% of survey respondents had a 12-month DSM-IV anxiety disorder. Of these, 27.6% received any treatment and only 9.8% received possibly adequate treatment.

Notably, only 41.3% of respondents with 12-month anxiety sensed a need for treatment.

“Low levels of service use and a high proportion of those receiving services not meeting adequacy standards for anxiety disorders exist worldwide,” the researchers concluded. “Results suggest the need for improving recognition of anxiety disorders and the quality of treatment.”

—Christina Vogt

Reference:

Alonso J, Liu Z, Evans-Lacko S, et al; WHO World Mental Health Survey Collaborators. Treatment gap for anxiety disorders is global: results of the World Mental Health Surveys in 21 countries [Published online January 22, 2018]. Depression Anxiety. doi:10.1002/da.22711.