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Meta-Analysis
. 2022 Jun;36(2):69-88.
doi: 10.1007/s40211-022-00411-6. Epub 2022 Feb 11.

Global prevalence of anxiety and PTSD in immigrants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sohrab Amiri  1
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Global prevalence of anxiety and PTSD in immigrants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Sohrab Amiri. Neuropsychiatr. 2022 Jun.

Abstract
in English, German

Background: A systematic and meta-analysis of the prevalence of anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in immigrants was conducted.

Methods: Based on the keywords, scientific databases were systematically searched to identify articles. The search included the three databases PubMed, Google Scholar and Research Gate until June 2020. The analysis was performed to assess the prevalence of anxiety and PTSD; subgroups were examined based on anxiety disorders.

Results: The prevalence of agoraphobia, PTSD, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), social phobia and specific phobia were 4, 25, 9, 4, 3, 5 and 8%, respectively.

Conclusions: Considering the findings of the present study regarding the significant prevalence of anxiety and PTSD in the immigrant population, it is necessary to pay special attention to the mental health of this population.

Zusammenfassung: GRUNDLAGEN: Wir haben eine systematische Metaanalyse zur Prävalenz von Angstzuständen („anxiety“) und posttraumatischen Belastungsstörungen (PTSD) bei Migranten durchgeführt.

Methodik: Anhand von Schlüsselbegriffen wurden in wissenschaftlichen Datenbanken systematisch Artikel identifiziert. Die Suche umfasste die 3 Datenbanken PubMed, Google Scholar und Research Gate bis Juni 2020. Die Analyse wurde durchgeführt, um die Prävalenz von Angstzuständen und PTSD zu bewerten; Subgruppen wurden auf der Grundlage von Angststörungen untersucht.

Ergebnisse: Die Prävalenzwerte für Agoraphobie, PTSD, generalisierte Angststörung (GAD), Panikstörung, Zwangsstörung (OCD), soziale Phobie und spezifische Phobie lagen bei 4, 25, 9, 4, 3, 5 bzw. 8%.

Schlussfolgerungen: Angesichts der Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Studie zur signifikanten Prävalenz von Angstzuständen und PTSD unter Migranten ist es notwendig, der psychischen Gesundheit dieser Bevölkerungsgruppe besondere Aufmerksamkeit zu widmen.

Keywords: Agoraphobia; Generalized anxiety disorder; Obsessive-compulsive disorder; Panic disorder; Post-traumatic stress disorder.

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