[Prevalence and associated factors of panic and phobic disorders in primary care]

Panic and phobic disorders are the most common anxiety disorders in the general population. They can be a source of suffering, disability and are often complicated by other psychiatric disorders. To estimate the prevalence of panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia and specific phobia and to assess associated sociodemographic characteristics in primary care patients in Sousse governorate. A systematic sample of 1246 adults who presented to 30 different primary care units in Sousse for a medical appointment was recruited in a cross- section epidemiological study. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview [CIDI 2.1] was used to diagnose the concerned anxiety disorders. The lifetime prevalence of panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia and specific phobia were respectively 1.3%, 2.5%, 6.2% and 24.6%. The female gender was significantly predominant in social and specific phobia. The young age was found significantly in subjects with social phobia. These anxiety disorders were significantly predominant in rural areas, except for social phobia. All of these disorders have a chronic course with an index of chronicity ranging from 71 to 80%. Our study provides further evidence of the high prevalence of anxiety disorders in primary care and highlights the particular need for general physicians to diagnose and treat correctly these disorders

[Prevalence and correlates of major depressive episodes in Sousse primary care setting: assessment with Tunisian version of CIDI

Major depression is a mental disorder that is associated with high morbidity and significant mortality. It is common among primary care attenders. Few is known about major depression prevalence and associated factors, which would prevent general practitioners from diagnosing it in primary care centres and treating it adequately. To determine prevalence and correlates of major depressive episodes [MDE] in a representative sample of primary care attenders in the area of Sousse [Tunisia]. A random and representative sample of primary care attenders was obtained by a two-stage sampling procedure. First, 30 primary care centres [20 urban and 10 rural] were selected, with stratification according to residency location. Second, 1246 consenting participants were systematically recruited among those centres attenders. Participants were screened, by trained interviewers, with Tunisian version of " Composite International Diagnostic Interview " CIDI.2.1. After data entry in ishell program, MDE diagnosis was obtained according to ICD-10 criteria. Mean age in our sample was 43.4 +/- 17.62 years, with feminine [70.9%] and urban [67.8%] predominance. MDE was found in 26.4% of participants. Associated factors were female gender, marital statute of widowed or divorced and rural residency. This study provided data about high prevalence of MDE in the area of Sousse primary care centres and its correlated factors