Abstract

Background: Anxiety is a prevalent mental health disorder, affecting approximately 33% of the population, while depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide. This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of anxiety and depression among patients attending primary health clinics.
Methods: A cohort cross-sectional study was conducted on patients at Primary Health Care and Family Medicine clinics in National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Non-probability consecutive sampling was used. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences.
Results: Regarding mental health, 48.1% of patients showed no signs of depression, while the remaining 51.9% displayed varying degrees of depression. Mild depression was the most prevalent (32.4%). For anxiety, 40.7% showed signs of anxiety. Females had a higher depression rate (61.9%) compared to males (44.5%), and age played a role, with the highest depression rate observed among patients aged 21-40 years (70.9%). Marital status also influenced depression, with widowed individuals showing a 100.0% depression rate, followed by divorced (56.3%), single (73.9%), and married (39.2%) individuals. Similarly, gender significantly affected anxiety, with females (46.6%) experiencing higher rates than males (36.3%). Patients aged 21-40 years had the highest anxiety rate (56.1%).
Conclusion: This study sheds light on the health factors and their impact on depression and anxiety among primary health clinic attendees. It highlights the importance of considering these factors while assessing mental health issues in a clinical setting. Further understanding of these associations can aid healthcare providers in identifying vulnerable populations and tailoring appropriate interventions to address mental health concerns effectively.

Key words: Depression, anxiety, primary health care centers, Saudi Arabia