Anxiety Disorders According to Age, Sex, Regional Distribution, Starting Age, Use of Services, Status, and Functionality/disability According to the National Study of Mental Health Colombia
In Colombia the anxiety disorders are of greater prevalence than other mental disorders. The 19.3% of the population between 18 and 65 years of age reports to have had an anxiety disorder some time in life. These are more frequent among women (21.8%). Within the anxiety disorders, the specific phobia is that of greater life prevalence with 13.9% in women and 10.9% in men, followed by the social phobia that is similar in both sexes with a 5% life prevalence. On the other hand the age of start of these disorders fluctuates between 7 years for the specific phobia disorder and 28 years for the post traumatic stress disorder.
Comparing the five regions in which the national territory was divided for the application of the survey, it was found that the Pacific Region and Bogotá D.C. show the highest prevalence of time any anxiety disorder in life with 22.0% and 21.7% respectively. The Atlantic Region presents the smallest prevalence (14.9%).
With respect to the measures on operation/disability, the post-traumatic stress disorder is the one that generates a greater disability followed in order by anxiety disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, and agoraphobia without panic. With relation to anxiety disorders, only 1.9% of the population that suffers it goes to the psychiatrist for treatment; in contrast, 5.6% of these go to the general practitioner. It is significant that 3.9% prefer to respond to alternative medicine treatment
