Nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from India
Background: Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also termed as social phobia, is a disabling psychiatric condition with limited epidemiological research on it in India. This study, using data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2016, is the first to explore its current prevalence and associate...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Indian Journal of Psychiatry |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_826_23 |
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| author | Satish Suhas Pavithra Jayasankar Rahul Patley Narayana Manjunatha Girish N. Rao Gopalkrishna Gururaj Mathew Varghese Vivek Benegal NMHS National Collaborators group |
| author_facet | Satish Suhas Pavithra Jayasankar Rahul Patley Narayana Manjunatha Girish N. Rao Gopalkrishna Gururaj Mathew Varghese Vivek Benegal NMHS National Collaborators group |
| author_sort | Satish Suhas |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background:
Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also termed as social phobia, is a disabling psychiatric condition with limited epidemiological research on it in India. This study, using data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2016, is the first to explore its current prevalence and associated factors in India.
Materials and Methods:
The NMHS in India used a comprehensive population-based study with subjects selected through a multistage stratified random cluster sampling technique across 12 states. The study included 34,802 adults interviewed with the Mini-International Psychiatric Interview 6.0.0. Firth penalized logistic regression (FPLR) was used to estimate covariate odds ratios (ORs), and the treatment gap for SAD and disability measured using Sheehan's disability scale was calculated.
Results:
The study found a 0.47% prevalence of SAD, with an average age of 35.68 years (standard deviation (SD) = 15.23) among those affected. Factors, such as male gender, unemployment, and living in urban areas, were associated with higher odds of SAD, while the elderly had lower odds. A significant proportion of individuals with SAD experienced disability in work (63%), social life (77%), and family life (68%). They spent a median of ₹ 2500 per month on treatment and had a high rate of comorbid psychiatric disorders (58%). The treatment gap was substantial at 82%.
Conclusions:
A considerable portion of India's population (approximately >65 lakhs) is affected by SAD. Surprisingly, the NMHS 2016 report indicates a higher risk of SAD among males compared with females, a trend that warrants further investigation. SAD in India is linked to significant disability and a considerable treatment gap, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to address this large, affected population, especially in light of the scarcity of mental health professionals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-8c2530de525242d6b723712ac0992095 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 0019-5545 1998-3794 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Indian Journal of Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj-art-8c2530de525242d6b723712ac09920952025-01-26T09:01:02ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsIndian Journal of Psychiatry0019-55451998-37942023-12-0165121261126810.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_826_23Nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from IndiaSatish SuhasPavithra JayasankarRahul PatleyNarayana ManjunathaGirish N. RaoGopalkrishna GururajMathew VargheseVivek BenegalNMHS National Collaborators groupBackground: Social anxiety disorder (SAD), also termed as social phobia, is a disabling psychiatric condition with limited epidemiological research on it in India. This study, using data from the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS), 2016, is the first to explore its current prevalence and associated factors in India. Materials and Methods: The NMHS in India used a comprehensive population-based study with subjects selected through a multistage stratified random cluster sampling technique across 12 states. The study included 34,802 adults interviewed with the Mini-International Psychiatric Interview 6.0.0. Firth penalized logistic regression (FPLR) was used to estimate covariate odds ratios (ORs), and the treatment gap for SAD and disability measured using Sheehan's disability scale was calculated. Results: The study found a 0.47% prevalence of SAD, with an average age of 35.68 years (standard deviation (SD) = 15.23) among those affected. Factors, such as male gender, unemployment, and living in urban areas, were associated with higher odds of SAD, while the elderly had lower odds. A significant proportion of individuals with SAD experienced disability in work (63%), social life (77%), and family life (68%). They spent a median of ₹ 2500 per month on treatment and had a high rate of comorbid psychiatric disorders (58%). The treatment gap was substantial at 82%. Conclusions: A considerable portion of India's population (approximately >65 lakhs) is affected by SAD. Surprisingly, the NMHS 2016 report indicates a higher risk of SAD among males compared with females, a trend that warrants further investigation. SAD in India is linked to significant disability and a considerable treatment gap, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches to address this large, affected population, especially in light of the scarcity of mental health professionals.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_826_23disabilityepidemiologyindianational mental health surveyprevalencesocial anxiety disordersocial phobiatreatment gap |
| spellingShingle | Satish Suhas Pavithra Jayasankar Rahul Patley Narayana Manjunatha Girish N. Rao Gopalkrishna Gururaj Mathew Varghese Vivek Benegal NMHS National Collaborators group Nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from India Indian Journal of Psychiatry disability epidemiology india national mental health survey prevalence social anxiety disorder social phobia treatment gap |
| title | Nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from India |
| title_full | Nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from India |
| title_fullStr | Nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from India |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from India |
| title_short | Nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from India |
| title_sort | nationally representative epidemiological study of social anxiety disorder from india |
| topic | disability epidemiology india national mental health survey prevalence social anxiety disorder social phobia treatment gap |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/indianjpsychiatry.indianjpsychiatry_826_23 |
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