Prevalence of and Factors Associated with Symptoms Compatible with Depression, Suicidal Ideation and Panic in Paraguayan Adults: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Study

Mental health problems represent a growing public health burden, particularly in middle-income countries where population-based evidence remains limited. This study aimed to analyze the risk profiles and heterogeneity of symptoms compatible with depression, suicidal ideation, and panic in the adult population of Paraguay. A cross-sectional study was conducted using nationally representative data from the 2022 STEPS survey. The presence of symptoms compatible with depression, panic, and suicidal ideation was assessed using self-reported dichotomous screening questions. Associations with sociodemographic, behavioral, and clinical variables were analyzed using multivariate models, estimating adjusted odds ratios (aOR) with 95% confidence intervals, and the analyses accounted for the complex sampling design. The prevalence of symptoms compatible with depression was 35.8%, panic 22.4%, and suicidal ideation 8.0%. Higher odds were observed in women, younger age groups, urban residents, and individuals reporting daily smoking as well as those with diabetes mellitus. Associations varied across outcomes, reflecting heterogeneous risk patterns. Symptoms compatible with depression, panic, and suicidal ideation are highly prevalent and unequally distributed in the adult population of Paraguay. These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention strategies, early detection, and the integration of mental health into public health and noncommunicable disease policies and management.