Dodani S, Zuberi R.
Center-based prevalence of anxiety and depression in women of the northern areas of Pakistan.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;50(5):138-40.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of anxiety and depression in women of the Northern areas. METHODS: A cross-sectional center-based study was conducted at Singal Medical Center (SMC), Gilgit, in the Northern Areas of Pakistan, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). RESULTS: One hundred and twenty women, between the ages of 16 and 60, attended the SMC over a two month period and were included in the study. Using HADS, it was found that 50% of the women had anxiety and/or depression; 25% suffered only from anxiety, 8% from depression and 17% had features of both. CONCLUSION: This study supports the previous studies of stress in remote areas and also contradicts the belief that people who live in the remote rural areas lead stress-free lives or have low rates of psychiatric morbidity (JPMA 50:138, 2000).

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