Prevalence and determinants of anxiety disorders among adolescents in a rural community from northern India

Introduction: There is scarce data available on community based prevalence of Anxiety Disorders (ADs) amongst adolescents in north Indian settings.

Objective: To determine the prevalence of anxiety disorders, and associated factors amongst adolescents in a rural community of Ballabgarh block, district Faridabad, Haryana.

Methods: Participants (10-19 years) were enrolled through simple random sequence from a sampling frame of adolescents residing in 28 villages of Ballabgarh block using household survey technique. They were screened using Screen for Childhood Anxiety Related Emotional Disorders (SCARED) tool and then subjected to confirmatory diagnosis using Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for Children/Adolescent (MINI KID). All adolescents with ADs were assessed for co-psychiatric morbidities using MINI-KID and functional impairment using Children Global Assessment Scale (CGAS). Prevalence and 95% Confidence intervals are reported. Additionally, socio-demographic factors were elicited using a semi-structured interview schedule and associations were determined using multivariable logistic regression analysis.

Results: A total of 678 adolescents participated in this study with mean age (SD) as 14.2 (2.5) years. The age adjusted prevalence of anxiety disorders was found to be 16.6% (95% CI: 16.0-17.2). The most prevalent anxiety disorder among participants was social anxiety disorders followed by specific phobias. Female sex and low socio-economic status were associated with anxiety disorders. Two third of adolescents with ADs had no functional impairment and almost one third were found to have one or more co-existing psychiatric co-morbidity.

Conclusion: We found a high prevalence of ADs in rural north Indian community settings warranting adequate health system response at primary care level.