Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews
Mental disorders are increasing in South Asia (SA), but their epidemiological burden is under-researched. We carried out a systematic umbrella review to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders and intentional self-harm in the region. Multiple databases were searched and systematic reviews report...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Cambridge University Press
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425123000729/type/journal_article |
| _version_ | 1797404859238973440 |
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| author | Aishwarya L. Vidyasagaran David McDaid Mehreen R. Faisal Muhammad Nasir Krishna P. Muliyala Sreekanth Thekkumkara Judy Wright Rumana Huque Saumit Benkalkar Najma Siddiqi |
| author_facet | Aishwarya L. Vidyasagaran David McDaid Mehreen R. Faisal Muhammad Nasir Krishna P. Muliyala Sreekanth Thekkumkara Judy Wright Rumana Huque Saumit Benkalkar Najma Siddiqi |
| author_sort | Aishwarya L. Vidyasagaran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Mental disorders are increasing in South Asia (SA), but their epidemiological burden is under-researched. We carried out a systematic umbrella review to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders and intentional self-harm in the region. Multiple databases were searched and systematic reviews reporting the prevalence of at least one mental disorder from countries in SA were included. Review data were narratively synthesised; primary studies of common mental disorders (CMDs) among adults were identified from a selected subset of reviews and pooled. We included 124 reviews. The majority (n = 65) reported on mood disorders, followed by anxiety disorders (n = 45). High prevalence of mental disorders and intentional self-harm was found in general adult and vulnerable populations. Two reviews met our pre-defined criteria for identifying primary studies of CMDs. Meta-analysis of 25 primary studies showed a pooled prevalence of 16.0% (95% CI = 11.0–22.0%, I
2 = 99.9%) for depression, 12.0% (5.0–21.0%, I
2 = 99.9%) for anxiety, and 14.0% (10.0–19.0, I
2 = 99.9%) for both among the general adult population; pooled estimates varied by country and assessment tool used. Overall, reviews suggest high prevalence for mental disorders in SA, but evidence is limited on conditions other than CMDs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:02:10Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-9db3a696c21d4602956f49ff3df450aa |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-4251 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T03:02:10Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-9db3a696c21d4602956f49ff3df450aa2023-12-04T13:13:45ZengCambridge University PressCambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health2054-42512023-01-011010.1017/gmh.2023.72Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviewsAishwarya L. Vidyasagaran0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9858-0685David McDaid1https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0744-2664Mehreen R. Faisal2Muhammad Nasir3Krishna P. Muliyala4Sreekanth Thekkumkara5Judy Wright6Rumana Huque7Saumit Benkalkar8Najma Siddiqi9Department of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, UKCare Policy and Evaluation Centre, Department of Health Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, London, UKDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, UKDepartment of Economics, Institute of Business Administration (IBA), Karachi, PakistanDepartment of Psychiatry, National Institute of Mental Health & Neurosciences (NIMHANS), Bengaluru, IndiaSchool of Health Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UKLeeds Institute of Health Sciences, University of Leeds, Leeds, UKARK Foundation, Dhaka, BangladeshKing’s College London, London, UKDepartment of Health Sciences, University of York, Heslington, UKMental disorders are increasing in South Asia (SA), but their epidemiological burden is under-researched. We carried out a systematic umbrella review to estimate the prevalence of mental disorders and intentional self-harm in the region. Multiple databases were searched and systematic reviews reporting the prevalence of at least one mental disorder from countries in SA were included. Review data were narratively synthesised; primary studies of common mental disorders (CMDs) among adults were identified from a selected subset of reviews and pooled. We included 124 reviews. The majority (n = 65) reported on mood disorders, followed by anxiety disorders (n = 45). High prevalence of mental disorders and intentional self-harm was found in general adult and vulnerable populations. Two reviews met our pre-defined criteria for identifying primary studies of CMDs. Meta-analysis of 25 primary studies showed a pooled prevalence of 16.0% (95% CI = 11.0–22.0%, I 2 = 99.9%) for depression, 12.0% (5.0–21.0%, I 2 = 99.9%) for anxiety, and 14.0% (10.0–19.0, I 2 = 99.9%) for both among the general adult population; pooled estimates varied by country and assessment tool used. Overall, reviews suggest high prevalence for mental disorders in SA, but evidence is limited on conditions other than CMDs.https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425123000729/type/journal_articlemental disordersintentional self-harmepidemiologyumbrella reviewSouth Asia |
| spellingShingle | Aishwarya L. Vidyasagaran David McDaid Mehreen R. Faisal Muhammad Nasir Krishna P. Muliyala Sreekanth Thekkumkara Judy Wright Rumana Huque Saumit Benkalkar Najma Siddiqi Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews Cambridge Prisms: Global Mental Health mental disorders intentional self-harm epidemiology umbrella review South Asia |
| title | Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews |
| title_full | Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews |
| title_short | Prevalence of mental disorders in South Asia: A systematic review of reviews |
| title_sort | prevalence of mental disorders in south asia a systematic review of reviews |
| topic | mental disorders intentional self-harm epidemiology umbrella review South Asia |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S2054425123000729/type/journal_article |
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