To investigate perceived helpfulness of treatment for GAD, data were analyzed from 26 WMH surveys carried out in 23 countries, using the CIDI to determine lifetime history. Respondents with lifetime GAD were asked:
- If they had ever talked to a medical professional about their anxiety
- If they had received treatment, and whether it was helpful
A higher proportion of respondents in HICs had sought treatment vs those in LMICs (38.4% vs 19.2%, p<0.001). However, perception of treatment being helpful did not differ significantly (70.9% vs 62.8%). The probability of receiving helpful treatment increased with the number of professionals seen – 77.3% of respondents sought the help of a second professional after initial unhelpful treatment, while only 29.7% persisted in seeking help from 10 professionals.
CIDI=Composite International Diagnostic Interview; GAD=generalized anxiety disorder;
HIC=high-income country; LMIC=low- and middle-income country; WMHS=World Mental Health Survey
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