title: A systematic review of anxiety prevalence in adults within primary care and community settings in Malaysia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Anxiety disorders are common mental health disorders with significant impact on the individual as well as burden on the country as a whole.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic review of databases, reference lists, internet sources, and input from content experts revealed 42 studies that documented the prevalence of anxiety symptoms or disorders. 12 of these studies specifically evaluated anxiety disorders.
  
  
  RESULTS
  4 studies looked at the prevalence of anxiety disorders in the general population, whilst the remainder focused on selected population groups: university students (4 studies); substance abuse (3 studies); and victims of abuse (1 study). Studies in the general population showed that the prevalence of generalised anxiety disorder was 0.4-5.6%, mixed anxiety and depression were 3-5%, panic without agoraphobia 0.4%, phobia unspecified 0.5-%, and anxiety not-otherwise-specified 0.3-6.5%. We found significant variability in anxiety disorders in the studies in selected population groups. The variability could also have been affected by methodological factors within each study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study provides a broad overview of the prevalence of anxiety disorders in Malaysia. More research is required to develop diagnostic instruments that are validated for local use and comparable with international standards. Reliable prevalence estimates are lacking within certain groups, e.g. those in rural, indigenous, migrant population groups and those exposed to natural disasters.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, International Medical University, IMU Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Electronic address: chinhoong_uk@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Chin Hoong
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, International Medical University, IMU Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Electronic address: ziabahkt@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Zia U Bakt
authors.initials: ZU
authors.lastname: Sultan Shah
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, International Medical University, IMU Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Electronic address: cheonglieng_teng@imu.edu.my.
authors.forename: Cheong Lieng
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: IMU Healthcare, International Medical University, No. 126 Jalan Jalil Perkasa 19, Bukit Jalil, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Electronic address: isaac.ltq@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Tzi Quen
authors.initials: TQ
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, International Medical University, IMU Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Electronic address: zainab_majeed@imu.edu.my.
authors.forename: Zainab Abdul
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Majeed
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine, International Medical University, IMU Clinical School, Jalan Rasah, 70300 Seremban, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia. Electronic address: chunwai_chan@imu.edu.my.
authors.forename: Chun Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Chan
mesh_terms: D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008296:Malaysia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Anxiety; Malaysia; Prevalence