Exploring Overlooked Anxiety Disorders: A Study on the Prevalence of Adult Separation Anxiety Disorder and Specific Phobia in the General Population

Year 2023, Volume: 33 Issue: 6, 796 - 805, 31.12.2023

Fatih Ekici , Gizem Karaoğlan , Ali Kandeğer , Lütfi Saltuk Demir , Özkan Güler

https://doi.org/10.54005/geneltip.1392240

Abstract

Objective: The current study aimed to investigate the prevalence of adult separation anxiety disorder and specific phobia in the general population, along with identifying the factors associated with these two disorders.
Material and Method: The study was carried out in the Selçuklu district, encompassing 28 of the 34 family health centers selected through a simple random sampling method. The study sample included 1,218 individuals over 18, chosen using a systematic sampling approach by skipping one resident from each neighborhood covered by the family health unit. After collecting the sociodemographic data, face-to-face diagnostic interviews were performed using the Structured Clinical Interviews for Separation Anxiety Symptoms (SCI-SAS) for ASAD and the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID-5) for specific phobia assessment.
Results: The study revealed that the lifetime prevalence of ASAD was 5.9%, with a point prevalence of 1.5%, while the lifetime prevalence of specific phobia was 11.3%. The application rates for the treatment of both disorders were very low and clinicians demonstrated limited recognition of ASAD. ASAD was correlated with female gender, low income, childhood traumatic experiences, migraine presence, and family history of serious illness. On the other hand, specific phobia was associated with female gender and family history of psychiatric disease.
Conclusion: Despite the high prevalence of both disorders, the alarming rates of clinical recognition and treatment underscore the need to develop health policies and awareness programs aimed at promoting early diagnosis and treatment.

Keywords

Adult, prevalence, separation anxiety disorder, specific phobia.

Göz Ardı Edilen Anksiyete Bozukluklarını Keşfetmek: Genel Toplumda Yetişkin Ayrılma Kaygısı Bozukluğu ve Özgül Fobi Yaygınlığı Üzerine Bir Araştırma

Abstract

Amaç: Bu çalışma, genel nüfusta yetişkinlerdeki ayrılma anksiyete bozukluğu (YAKB) ve özgül fobi yaygınlığını araştırmayı ve bu iki bozuklukla ilişkili faktörleri belirlemeyi amaçlamaktadır.
Gereç ve Yöntemler: Çalışma, Selçuklu ilçesinde bulunan 34 aile sağlığı merkezinden basit rastgele örnekleme yöntemi ile belirlenen 28’inde gerçekleştirilmiştir. Araştırmanın örneklemini aile sağlığı biriminin kapsadığı mahallede ikamet edenler arasından sistematik örnekleme yöntemiyle birer kişi atlayarak seçilen 18 yaş üstü 1218 kişi oluşturmaktadır. Araştırmada sosyodemografik veri formu görüşmeci tarafından uygulandıktan sonra YAKB için AAB-YKG, Özgül fobi için SCID-5 ile yüz yüze tanı koydurucu görüşmeler yapılmıştır.
Bulgular: Çalışma, YAKB yaşam boyu yaygınlığının %5.9, nokta yaygınlığının ise %1.5 olduğunu ortaya koyarken, özgül fobi yaşam boyu yaygınlığının %11.3 olduğunu gösterdi. Her iki bozuklukta tedaviye başvuru oranları oldukça düşük olup klinisyenler YAKB’yi sınırlı düzeyde tanıyabildiler. ASAD, kadın cinsiyet, düşük gelir düzeyi, çocukluk dönemi travmatik deneyim varlığı, migren varlığı ve ailede ciddi hastalık öyküsü ile ilişkili bulundu. Diğer yandan, özgül fobi, kadın cinsiyeti ve ailede psikiyatrik hastalık öyküsü ile ilişkilendirilmiştir.
Sonuç: Her iki bozukluğun yüksek yaygınlıklara rağmen kliniklerde düşük tanınma ve tedavi edilme oranları, erken tanı ve tedaviyi teşvik etmeyi amaçlayan sağlık politikalarına ve farkındalık programlarına olan ihtiyacı vurgulamaktadır.

Keywords

Yetişkin, ayrılma anksiyete bozukluğu, özgül fobi, yaygınlık

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