Prevalence of Anxiety Disorders in Psychiatric Units of Government Hospitals in Lahore: A Clinical Perspective

Abstract

The objective of this study is to determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders in major government hospitals situated in Lahore city using a cross-sectional research design. A purposive sampling strategy was employed to gather data from outpatients over a period of 45-90 days. Demographic information was collected, and participants completed scales including generalized anxiety disorder-7 ([GAD-7] Spitzer et al., 2006), patient health questionnaire ([PHQ-9] Kroenke et al., 2001), and panic disorder severity scale ([PDSS] Shear et al., 1997). In total, 1755 participants were screened and 300 of them reported experiencing anxiety symptoms. Among the 300 identifies participants, 92.7% were classified in the severe-anxiety category on the GAD-7. Regarding depressive symptoms, 49.0% fell into the severe category on the PHQ-9. Women represented 93.0 of the identified cases ass compared to 7% men. The findings highlight the importance of comprehensive psychological assessment, early identification of anxiety-related symptoms and the assessment of co-occurring depressive symptoms in psychiatric outpatient settings.  Future research should employ longitudinal designs and include diverse populations across different regions of Pakistan to examine the course of anxiety-related symptoms and the influence of cultural and socioeconomic factors.  Such research may contribute to the development of evidence-based mental health policies and interventions in Pakistan.  

Keywords: anxiety disorders, comorbidity, prevalence, Lahore