Review: worldwide lifetime prevalence of anxiety disorders is 16.6%, with considerable heterogeneity between studies
Q What is the prevalence and incidence of anxiety disorders in a general population and what is the degree of heterogeneity between studies?
METHODS
Design:
Systematic review with meta-analyses.
Data sources:
MEDLINE and HealthSTAR databases plus hand searches of reference lists; 1980 to 2004.
Study selection and analysis:
English-language articles examining prevalence and/or incidence of anxiety disorders in adult populations with samples sizes of 450 or more. Only studies using standardised diagnostic instruments or clinical diagnosis were selected. One-year prevalence, lifetime prevalence, and incidence data were extracted (overall, sex and age specific rates) from each study and pooled using Fastpro software (where three or more rates were reported). Pooled rates were tested for heterogeneity according to the Fleiss method. Exclusions: studies reporting point prevalence or …
