What question did this study set out to answer?

This analysis aims to characterize the burden of psychiatric disorders in Saudi Arabia and evaluate the consistency of prevalence estimates across different data sources.

May 29, 2026Open Access

Mental Health Burden in Saudi Arabia: A Secondary Data Analysis of National Survey and Global Disease Burden Estimates

Key Points

This analysis aims to characterize the burden of psychiatric disorders in Saudi Arabia and evaluate the consistency of prevalence estimates across different data sources.
Conducted secondary analysis using data from the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (N=4004, 2013-2016), National Screening Study (N=6015), and GBD Study 2019.
Utilized WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 3.0 for diagnostic criteria and performed treatment gap analysis with z-tests for proportions.
Quantified concordance across data sources using absolute differences, relative differences, and overlap indices.
12-month prevalence of any psychiatric disorder was found to be 20.2% in the SNMHS, with anxiety disorders being the most common at 12.3%.
Lifetime prevalence of any psychiatric disorder was 34.2%, indicating that one in three Saudi adults will experience such disorders.
The treatment gap was significant, with 86.1% of individuals receiving no treatment, markedly higher than similar metrics in Western Europe and the USA.

Abstract

Objectives: Psychiatric disorders represent a significant yet underrecognized public health challenge in Saudi Arabia. This secondary data analysis synthesized and compared prevalence estimates from multiple data sources – the Saudi National Mental Health Survey (SNMHS; n = 4004; 2013–2016), the 2022 National Screening Study ( n = 6,015), and global burden of disease (GBD) Study 2019 – to comprehensively characterize the mental health burden and quantify consistency across methodologically distinct approaches. Methods: We conducted secondary analysis of published aggregate data from three complementary sources. SNMHS employed World Health Organization Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) Version 3.0 with diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders-IV criteria. We calculated absolute differences, relative differences, and overlap indices to quantify concordance across data sources. Treatment gap analyses compared Saudi Arabia with international benchmarks using z -tests for proportions. Age-standardized disability-adjusted life years, prevalence, and incidence were extracted from GBD 2019 with 95% uncertainty intervals. Results: SNMHS documented 12-month prevalence of any psychiatric disorder at 20.2% (=1.3), with lifetime prevalence of 34.2% (standard error = 2.1). Anxiety disorders were most common (12.3%), followed by mood disorders (6.8%). For depression specifically, SNMHS 12-month major depressive disorder prevalence (3.8%; 95% confidence interval: 3.0%–4.6%) showed strong concordance with GBD 2019 prevalence (4.2%; 95% uncertainty interval UI: 3.7%–4.9%), with a concordance index of 90.5%. The treatment gap was substantial, with 86.1% receiving no treatment, significantly higher than Western Europe (50%, P < 0.001), the USA (55%, P < 0.001), and high-income country median (50%, P < 0.001). Conclusions: Psychiatric disorders affect one in three Saudi adults over their lifetime, with approximately 86% reporting no service utilization. Depressive disorders demonstrate strong quantitative concordance across methodologically distinct data sources. The persistent treatment gap represents a substantial public health challenge requiring multilevel policy interventions.

Mental Health Burden in Saudi Arabia: A Secondary Data Analysis of National Survey and Global Disease Burden Estimates

Key Points

Abstract

Cite This Study