Lee, SingTsang, AdleyRuscio, Ayelet MeronHaro Abad, Josep MariaStein, Dan J.Alonso Caballero, JordiAngermeyer, Matthias C.Bromet, Evelyn J.Demyttenaere, KoenGirolamo, Giovanni dede Graaf, RonGureje, OyeIwata, NoboruKaram, Elie G.Lepine, Jean-PierreLevinson, DaphnaMedina Mora, Maria ElenaBrowne, Mark OakleyPosada Villa, JoséKessler, Ronald C.2019-03-182019-03-182009Lee S, Tsang A, Ruscio AM, Haro JM, Stein DJ, Alonso J et al. Implications of modifying the duration requirement of generalized anxiety disorder in developed and developing countries. Psychol Med. 2009 Jul;39(7):1163-76. DOI: 10.1017/S00332917080048070033-2917http://hdl.handle.net/10230/36858BACKGROUND: A number of western studies have suggested that the 6-month duration requirement of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) does not represent a critical threshold in terms of onset, course, or risk factors of the disorder. No study has examined the consequences of modifying the duration requirement across a wide range of correlates in both developed and developing countries. METHOD: Population surveys were carried out in seven developing and 10 developed countries using the WHO Composite International Diagnostic Interview (total sample=85,052). Prevalence and correlates of GAD were compared across mutually exclusive GAD subgroups defined by different minimum duration criteria. RESULTS: Lifetime prevalence estimates for GAD lasting 1 month, 3 months, 6 months and 12 months were 7.5%, 5.2%, 4.1% and 3.0% for developed countries and 2.7%, 1.8%, 1.5% and 1.2% for developing countries, respectively. There was little difference between GAD of 6 months' duration and GAD of shorter durations (1-2 months, 3-5 months) in age of onset, symptom severity or persistence, co-morbidity or impairment. GAD lasting >or=12 months was the most severe, persistently symptomatic and impaired subgroup. CONCLUSIONS: In both developed and developing countries, the clinical profile of GAD is similar regardless of duration. The DSM-IV 6-month duration criterion excludes a large number of individuals who present with shorter generalized anxiety episodes which may be recurrent, impairing and contributory to treatment-seeking. Future iterations of the DSM and ICD should consider modifying the 6-month duration criterion so as to better capture the diversity of clinically salient anxiety presentations.application/pdfeng© Cambridge University Press. The published version of the article: Lee S, Tsang A, Ruscio AM, Haro JM, Stein DJ, Alonso J et al. Implications of modifying the duration requirement of generalized anxiety disorder in developed and developing countries. Psychol Med. 2009 Jul; 39(7): 1163-76. is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291708004807Trastorns d'ansietatPaïsos industrialitzatsPaïsos en vies de desenvolupamentinfo:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0033291708004807info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess