Rita A Watterson1, Jeanne V A Williams2, Dina H Lavorato1,2, Scott B Patten1,2,3. 1. 1 Department of Psychiatry, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. 2. 2 Department of Community Health Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta. 3. 3 Mathison Centre for Mental Health Research & Education, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: The first national survey to assess the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in Canada was the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS-MH). The World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI), used within the representative sample of the CCHS-MH, provides the best available description of the epidemiology of this condition in Canada. This study uses the CCHS-MH data to describe the epidemiology of GAD. METHOD: The analysis estimated proportions and odds ratios and used logistic regression modelling. All results entailed appropriate sampling weights and bootstrap variance estimation procedures. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of GAD is 8.7% (95% CI, 8.2% to 9.3%), and the 12-month prevalence is 2.6% (95% CI, 2.3% to 2.8%). GAD is significantly associated with being female (OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.1); being middle-aged (age 35-54 years) (OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.7); being single, widowed, or divorced (OR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.6); being unemployed (OR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.5); having a low household income (<$30 000) (OR 3.2; 95% CI, 2.3 to 4.5); and being born in Canada (OR 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.8). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GAD was slightly higher than international estimates, with similar associated demographic variables. As expected, GAD was highly comorbid with other psychiatric conditions but also with indicators of pain, stress, stigma, and health care utilization. Independent of comorbid conditions, GAD showed a significant degree of impact on both the individual and society. Our results show that GAD is a common mental disorder within Canada, and it deserves significant attention in health care planning and programs.
OBJECTIVE: The first national survey to assess the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) in Canada was the 2012 Canadian Community Health Survey: Mental Health and Well-Being (CCHS-MH). The World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview (WMH-CIDI), used within the representative sample of the CCHS-MH, provides the best available description of the epidemiology of this condition in Canada. This study uses the CCHS-MH data to describe the epidemiology of GAD. METHOD: The analysis estimated proportions and odds ratios and used logistic regression modelling. All results entailed appropriate sampling weights and bootstrap variance estimation procedures. RESULTS: The lifetime prevalence of GAD is 8.7% (95% CI, 8.2% to 9.3%), and the 12-month prevalence is 2.6% (95% CI, 2.3% to 2.8%). GAD is significantly associated with being female (OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.3 to 2.1); being middle-aged (age 35-54 years) (OR 1.6; 95% CI, 1.0 to 2.7); being single, widowed, or divorced (OR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.6); being unemployed (OR 1.9; 95% CI, 1.5 to 2.5); having a low household income (<$30 000) (OR 3.2; 95% CI, 2.3 to 4.5); and being born in Canada (OR 2.0; 95% CI, 1.4 to 2.8). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of GAD was slightly higher than international estimates, with similar associated demographic variables. As expected, GAD was highly comorbid with other psychiatric conditions but also with indicators of pain, stress, stigma, and health care utilization. Independent of comorbid conditions, GAD showed a significant degree of impact on both the individual and society. Our results show that GAD is a common mental disorder within Canada, and it deserves significant attention in health care planning and programs.
Entities:
Keywords:
anxiety; cross-sectional studies; epidemiology; generalized anxiety disorder; major depressive disorder; population studies
Authors: Scott B Patten; Jeanne V A Williams; Dina H Lavorato; Jian Li Wang; Keltie McDonald; Andrew G M Bulloch Journal: Can J Psychiatry Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 4.356
Authors: E Leray; A Camara; D Drapier; F Riou; N Bougeant; A Pelissolo; K R Lloyd; V Bellamy; J L Roelandt; B Millet Journal: Eur Psychiatry Date: 2010-04-28 Impact factor: 5.361
Authors: Josep Maria Haro; Saena Arbabzadeh-Bouchez; Traolach S Brugha; Giovanni de Girolamo; Margaret E Guyer; Robert Jin; Jean Pierre Lepine; Fausto Mazzi; Blanca Reneses; Gemma Vilagut; Nancy A Sampson; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Int J Methods Psychiatr Res Date: 2006 Impact factor: 4.035