The Role of Ethnicity in Expression, Prevalence, and Severity of Generalized Anxiety Disorder and their Overlap with Depressive Symptoms: Epidemiological Evidence from a Rapidly Developing Middle Eastern Country

Mapping Intimacies ◽

10.21203/rs.3.rs-741912/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Salma M. Khaled ◽

Monica Zolezzi

Keyword(s):

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Middle Eastern ◽

Depression Symptoms ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Middle Eastern Country ◽

Eastern Country ◽

Symptom Profile ◽

The Impact

Abstract IntroductionQatar is a small but high-income Middle Eastern country with a large influx of migrants each year. However, the impact of changing population structure and urbanization on prevalence of generalized anxiety symptoms remains unexplored to date. Materials & MethodsA total of 2,640 participants interviewed by phone using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) and the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-2). Bivariate and multinomial logistic regression analyses were conducted to explore the associations of ethnicity (Arab versus Non-Arab) with severity and symptom profile of GAD and overlap with depressive symptoms. ResultsThe point prevalence of mild, moderate, and severe symptoms were 13.4% (95% CI: 11.9 – 15.0), 2.7% (95% CI: 2.0 – 3.5), and 0.9% (95% CI: 0.6– 1.4), respectively. Arab ethnicity was associated with mild GAD (OR=1.78, p=0.009) and moderate-to-severe GAD (OR=2.36, p=0.044). Relative to non-migrants, migrant types were not significantly associated with mild or with moderate-to- severe GAD. Interactions between depressive symptoms and ethnicity were evident and statistically significant for the association with mild GAD versus no GAD (OR=0.34, p=0.003). ConclusionsEthnicity moderated the association of depression symptoms and GAD severity, with potential implications for early screening and community intervention.

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Generalized Anxiety Disorder and Depressive Symptoms among Pakistani Population during the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Regression Analysis

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.21-0380 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 105 (4) ◽

pp. 915-923

Author(s):

Farah Yasmin ◽

Kartik Dapke ◽

Muhammad Rahman Khalid ◽

Hina Naz ◽

Farah Naz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Depressive Symptoms ◽

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Cross Sectional Survey ◽

Pakistani Population ◽

The World ◽

The Impact ◽

Second Wave

ABSTRACT. Over a span of 1 year, with millions infected, COVID-19 has spread to every part of the world and now poses a health threat to each and every one of us. The outbreak has consequently resulted in multiple health problems such as stress, anxiety, depressive symptoms, insomnia, panic, and denial globally. Several factors have contributed to this rising number of psychiatric consults all over the world. The primary objective of this study was to investigate the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of Pakistani population during the second wave of the pandemic in this region. We conducted an online web-based cross-sectional survey comprising 500 participants. The questionnaire assessed the demographic information, attitude, and knowledge concerning COVID-19 outbreak in addition to generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) utilizing the GAD-7 scale and depressive symptoms using the Center for Epidemiology Scale for Depression (CES-D) scale. The response rate of the study was 90.9%. The results of the survey indicated a prevalence of 25.4% of GAD, and 18.8% of depressive symptoms. Furthermore, nearly 34.8% of participants feared contracting COVID-19, 62.8% obtained constant critical updates regarding COVID-19, while 17.6% did not understand the knowledge regarding COVID-19. In the multivariate regression models, GAD was significantly associated with gender, age, and checking constantly of critical updates regarding COVID-19. Similarly, participants under 30 years had a higher risk of developing depressive symptoms than those above (> 30 years). Lastly, participants with no formal education were also found to be more prone to developing depression. We identified a potential threat to mental health during the pandemic.

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Cognitive functions in young adults with generalized anxiety disorder

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/j.eurpsy.2018.10.008 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 56 (1) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Kiara Leonard ◽

Amitai Abramovitch

Keyword(s):

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Cognitive Load ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Cognitive Functions ◽

Theoretical Models ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Neuropsychological Battery ◽

Compensatory Mechanisms ◽

Neuropsychological Profile ◽

The Impact

AbstractBackground:Anxiety and worry are central symptoms of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) that have been theorized to negatively impact cognitive functions. However, most of the research has focused on threat-related or emotionally-charged stimuli, and a surprisingly small number of investigations examined ‘cold’ cognitive functions using classic neuropsychological tests. Such investigations are particularly important given that some theoretical models suggest compensatory mechanisms associated with anxiety that in certain circumstances may result in intact performance. The aim of the present study is to assess the neuropsychological profile associated with GAD, using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery.Methods:A sample of 23 college students meeting criteria for DSM-5 GAD and 20 control participants completed a psychometrically valid comprehensive computerized neuropsychological battery and clinical questionnaires.Results:The GAD sample presented with significantly elevated symptomatic rates of anxiety, worry, depression and stress. However, no significant differences were found on any neuropsychological outcome measures or domain indexes. Effect sizes were small, some of which favored the GAD sample.Conclusion:Despite substantial psychopathological burden, GAD exhibited intact cognitive functioning. These results support the Cognitive Control Theory of Anxiety, suggesting that elevated primary anxiety may not impact ‘cold’ cognitive functions in the absence of threat or substantial cognitive load. Given that this is one of the only studies employing a comprehensive neuropsychological battery in GAD, more research is needed in this population to replicate these results and to examine the impact of anxiety on cognitive functions at varying degrees of cognitive load in this population.

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Insomnia and Quality of Life in Generalized Anxiety Disorder: Impact on Clinical Presentation and Response to Pregabalin and Venlafaxine-XR

European Psychiatry ◽

10.1016/s0924-9338(09)70767-9 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 24 (S1) ◽

pp. 1-1 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

M.A. Mychaskiw ◽

J.M. Alvir ◽

B.K. Herman ◽

S. Pallanti ◽

A. Joshi

Keyword(s):

Quality Of Life ◽

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Sleep Problems ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Medical Outcomes ◽

Double Blind ◽

Disturbance Factor ◽

The Impact

Aims:To assess the impact of insomnia on quality of life (QoL) and functioning in patients with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), and evaluate the efficacy of pregabalin and venlafaxine-XR in improving sleep and QoL.Methods:A double-blind trial in adults who met DSM-IV criteria for GAD, with a HAM-A total score ≥20,randomized to 8-weeks of flexible-dose treatment with pregabalin (300-600 mg/d, N=121), venlafaxine-XR (75-225 mg/d, N=125), or placebo (N=128).Results:At baseline, 64% of all subjects had insomnia (according to the Medical Outcomes Study Sleep scale [MOS]-Sleep Problems Index [SPI] criteria).While HAM-A total scores (minus the insomnia item) were similar for patients with and without baseline insomnia (25.7 vs. 25.0) those with reported significantly more impairment on the Quality of Life, Enjoyment, and Satisfaction Questionnaire (Q-LES-Q; 45.4 vs. 53.6; p< 0.0001) and Sheehan Disability Scale (SDS; 17.5 vs.14.3; p< 0.0001) than those without. At endpoint, there was a significantly greater mean improvement in MOS-sleep disturbance factor and MOS-SPI with pregabalin (-29.0 and -21.1, respectively) than venlafaxine-XR (-14.7 and -11.0) or placebo (-15.2 and -12.5; all p< 0.05). In more pregabalin (64%) than venlafaxine-XR (51%) or placebo (52%) subjects, abnormal baseline sleep had normalized by endpoint. Endpoint change in MOS-SPI significantly correlated with improvement in both Q-LES-Q and SDS-total scores (Spearman r-values, -0.48 and 0.46, respectively; both p< 0.0001; all subjects).Conclusion:Significantly greater impairment in QoL and functioning was observed in patients with high (vs. low) levels of insomnia. Pregabalin produced significantly greater improvement in insomnia than venlafaxine-XR or placebo.

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Impact of Progression of Parkinson's Disease and Various Other Factors on Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Journal of Neurosciences in Rural Practice ◽

10.4103/jnrp.jnrp_52_18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 09 (03) ◽

pp. 287-290 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Abdul Qayyum Rana ◽

Hamza Ansari ◽

Abdul Rehman M. Qureshi ◽

Eraad Rahman

Keyword(s):

Parkinson’S Disease ◽

Parkinson's Disease ◽

Anxiety Disorder ◽

Generalized Anxiety Disorder ◽

Ethnically Diverse ◽

Influential Factors ◽

Generalized Anxiety ◽

Increased Risk ◽

The Impact ◽

The Relationship

ABSTRACT Objective: While much research has been conducted toward understanding the relationship between prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) and generalized anxiety, little has been done considering additional influential factors in the relationship by means of a large ethnically diverse sample. Our study strives to fulfill these deficits in the literature as we set out to determine the impact of progression of PD, age, gender, and Hoehn and Yahr (H and Y) staging of PD on generalized anxiety. Methods: A retrospective chart review analysis was performed on PD patients who were regularly examined in a community-based PD and movement disorders center from 2005 to 2010. Results: This study consisted of 310 patients with PD among whom 12% had generalized anxiety. Neither age nor gender was significant onset predictors at P = 0.05. The impact of progression of H and Y Stages 2–3 and 2–4 increased the odds of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) prevalence though it was statistically insignificant at P = 0.05. Conclusions: Clinicians should not expect the risk of developing anxiety to depend on gender nor change as a function of age though it may increase with symptomatic progression of PD as outlined by H and Y. To the best of our knowledge, this is the largest and most ethnically diverse prevalence study with a focus on generalized anxiety and PD. Significant Outcomes and Limitations: The symptomatic progression of PD, but not age or gender, may be associated with an increased risk for GAD. This study lacked adjustment for potential confounders such as depression and PD medications.

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