Twelve‐month prevalence, persistence, severity, and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders in Qatar's national mental health study

Abstract

Abstract Objectives To estimate 12‐month prevalence, persistence, severity, and treatment of mental disorders and socio‐demographic correlates in Qatar. Methods We conducted the first national population‐based telephone survey of Arab adults between 2019 and 2022 using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and estimated 12‐month DSM‐5 mood and anxiety disorders and their persistence (the proportion of lifetime cases who continue to meet 12‐month criteria). Results The 12‐month prevalence of any disorder was 21.1% (10.4% mild, 38.7% moderate, and 50.9% severe) and was associated with: younger age, female, previously married, and with persistence of any disorder. Persistence was 74.7% (64.0% mood and 75.6% anxiety) and was significantly associated with secondary education or lower. Minimally adequate treatment received among those with any 12‐month mental disorder was 10.6% (74.6% in healthcare and 64.6% non‐healthcare sectors). Severity and the number of disorders significantly associated with each other and with treatment received (χ 2 = 7.24, p = 0.027) including adequate treatment within the mental health specialty sector (χ 2 = 21.42, p < 0.001). Conclusions Multimorbidity and sociodemographics were associated with 12‐month mental disorder. Treatment adequacy in Qatar are comparable to high‐income countries. Low treatment contact indicate need for population‐wide mental health literacy programes in addition to more accessible and effective mental health services.

Keywords

• 12‐month prevalence
• anxiety disorder
• mood disorder
• treatment adequacy