Prevalence of depression and specific anxiety problems among Icelandic university students

Abstract

The aim of the current study was to estimate the prevalence of social anxiety disorder (SAD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) among university students, by using specific symptoms- and impairment measures. We hypothesised that taking functional impairment into account would yield lower prevalence rates than using only specific symptoms measures. Participants were 671 students at Reykjavik University chosen by convenience and measures were administered on paper in class. A self-report measure was designed to assess the subjective functional impairment of anxiety, depression and stress in students‘ everyday life. The results indicate that estimated prevalence of anxiety and depression, when subjective functional impairment was taken into account, was lower than when symptoms measures where used alone. Prevalence, when impairment was taken into account, was 5.63% for SAD, 3.64% for GAD, 5.22% for OCD and 9.32% for MDD. The addition of a functional impairment measure can be an important disposition for the estimation of the prevalence of mental health problems when using self-reports. It is also important to take situational factors into account when the prevalence of mental health problems among certain groups like university students is being investigated. Stress factors in students’ everyday life seem to influence the outcome of specific symptoms measures.