Logo do repositório
 
Publicação

Anxiolytic Medication Use in Low- Middle- and High-Income Countries

2026-01Artigo científico Acesso aberto
Ver registo simples
dc.contributor.authorStein, Dan J.
dc.contributor.authorKazdin, Alan E.
dc.contributor.authorBaldwin, David S.
dc.contributor.authorHarris, Meredith G.
dc.contributor.authorHwang, Irving
dc.contributor.authorPozuelo, Julia R.
dc.contributor.authorSampson, Nancy A.
dc.contributor.authorWoodruff, Peter
dc.contributor.authorViana, Maria Carmen
dc.contributor.authorAguilar-Gaxiola, Sergio
dc.contributor.authorAl-Hamzawi, Ali
dc.contributor.authorAlonso, Jordi
dc.contributor.authorAndrade, Laura Helena
dc.contributor.authorBenjet, Corina
dc.contributor.authorBruffaerts, Ronny
dc.contributor.authorCaldas-de-Almeida, José Miguel
dc.contributor.authorChardoul, Stephanie
dc.contributor.authorde Girolamo, Giovanni
dc.contributor.authorGureje, Oye
dc.contributor.authorHaro, Josep M.
dc.contributor.authorKaram, Elie G.
dc.contributor.authorKaram, Aimee
dc.contributor.authorKovess-Masfety, Viviane
dc.contributor.authorNavarro-Mateu, Fernando
dc.contributor.authorNishi, Daisuke
dc.contributor.authorPosada-Villa, José
dc.contributor.authorRoest, Annelieke
dc.contributor.authorStagnaro, Juan Carlos
dc.contributor.authorVladescu, Cristian
dc.contributor.authorVigo, Daniel V.
dc.contributor.authorKessler, Ronald C.
dc.contributor.institutionNOVA Medical School|Faculdade de Ciências Médicas (NMS|FCM)
dc.contributor.pblWiley
dc.date.accessioned2026-01-22T10:37:01Z
dc.date.available2026-01-22T10:37:01Z
dc.date.issued2026-01
dc.descriptionPublisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND: Anxiolytic medications, particularly benzodiazepines, are widely prescribed, giving impetus to long-standing debates about how often these agents should be employed in clinical practice. There are, however, few cross-country studies of the pharmacoepidemiology of these agents. We report on the frequency of anxiolytic medication use, reasons for use, and perceived effectiveness of use in general population surveys across 20 countries. METHODS: Face-to-face interviews with community samples totaling n = 49,919 respondents in the World Health Organization World Mental Health (WMH) Surveys asked about anxiolytic medication use anytime in the prior 12 months in conjunction with validated fully structured diagnostic interviews. Treatment questions were administered independently of diagnoses to all respondents. RESULTS: A weighted 5.6% (n = 4079) of respondents reported anxiolytic medication use within the past 12 months; the vast majority comprised benzodiazepine use, and use was highest amongst respondents with a subthreshold major depressive episode (MDE) (25.2%) and a 12-month MDE (19.8%). Rates were significantly higher in high-income countries (HICs) than low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) (8.5% vs. 2.2%, χ21 = 559.6, p < 0.001). Short-acting benzodiazepines and z-drugs were most commonly used for sleep (66.5% and 85.5%), while intermediate-acting benzodiazepines and long-acting benzodiazepines were most commonly used either for sleep (37.9% and 30.1%) or anxiety (33.3% and 32.0%). Across all conditions, anxiolytic medications were reported as very effective by 55.7% of users and somewhat effective by an additional 32.2% of users, with similar proportions in HICs and LMICs. Negative predictors of high perceived effectiveness were a 12-month MDE and taking anxiolytic medication for comorbid anxiety and depression. CONCLUSION: These data do not definitely answer the question of how often benzodiazepines should be prescribed in clinical practice, but they usefully inform discussions of how to optimize their use. It is noteworthy that anxiolytic medications, particularly benzodiazepines, are largely prescribed for anxiety and sleep, and that they are widely perceived to be either very or somewhat effective by users. However, more targeted prescription of these agents may be necessary; in particular antidepressant intervention should be prioritized in the pharmacotherapy of major depressive disorder.en
dc.description.versionpublishersversion
dc.description.versionpublished
dc.format.extent426886
dc.identifier.doi10.1002/hup.70031
dc.identifier.issn1099-1077
dc.identifier.otherPURE: 149391194
dc.identifier.otherPURE UUID: 1b23e294-9a96-434c-9a75-9a9ddea346a9
dc.identifier.otherScopus: 105026422522
dc.identifier.otherPubMed: 41474294
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10362/199634
dc.identifier.urlhttps://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105026422522
dc.language.isoeng
dc.peerreviewedyes
dc.subjectanxiolytic medications
dc.subjectperceived effectiveness
dc.subjectreasons for use
dc.subjectNeurology
dc.subjectClinical Neurology
dc.subjectPsychiatry and Mental health
dc.subjectPharmacology (medical)
dc.subjectSDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
dc.titleAnxiolytic Medication Use in Low- Middle- and High-Income Countriesen
dc.title.subtitleA World Mental Health Surveys Reporten
dc.typejournal article
degois.publication.firstPage
degois.publication.issue1
degois.publication.lastPage
degois.publication.titleHuman psychopharmacology
degois.publication.volume41
dspace.entity.typePublication
rcaap.rightsopenAccess

Ficheiros

Principais
A mostrar 1 - 1 de 1
Miniatura
Nome:
Human_Psychopharmacology_-_2026_-_Stein_-_Anxiolytic_Medication_Use_in_Low_Middle_and_High_Income_Countries_A_World.pdf
Tamanho:
416.88 KB
Formato:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Ver/Abrir

Coleções

NMS - Artigos em revista internacional com arbitragem científica