The prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, and anxiety in Libya: a systematic review

Abstract

Abstract Background With the rise of fragility, conflict, and violence (FCV), understanding the prevalence and risk factors associated with common mental disorders (CMD) is beneficial to estimate the disease burden, redirect of available resources and design evidence-based interventions to mitigate the rising issue among war affected population. Mental disorders are most likely to be elevated in Libyan population, possibly triggered by the triple challenges of long-standing civil conflict, economic shocks, and the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Although many other mental health variables are salient, this review focused only on posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression and anxiety, because these are the outcome indices that have been studied sufficiently in Libya. The purpose of this review is to investigate the prevalence of PTSD, depression and anxiety and associated risk factors within the Libyan context, and to assess and identify the resources needed to address this continually rising alarming health issue. Methods A search was completed in the academic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, BMJ, Science Direct, Springer Link, Mandumah, ALMANHAL (Arabic Database) from the start of Libyan war February 2011 till January 2023. In addition, hand search was conducted to source additional data. Only studies that investigated prevalence and associated risk factors of PTSD, depression and anxiety in Libya were included. A total of 506 studies were identified of which 33 met the inclusion criteria for this review. There were ten studies investigated the prevalence of post-traumatic stress disorder, twenty studies were focused on depression, while eighteen studies evaluated anxiety. The sample size for all the included studies ranged from 19 to 31,557. Results The aggregate prevalence of PTSD, depression, and anxiety was 25.23%, 23.68%, and 14.93%, respectively, which is alarming high comparing to the global prevalence, and it requires immediate intervention. The studies further concluded that several demographic variables such as young age, female, single, educated, loss of employment, with financial difficulties, and victims of domestic violence were significantly associated with PTSD, depression, and anxiety. Conclusion In conclusion, the results from this systematic review will help in informing healthcare practitioners, planners, and policymakers on the burden of common mental disorders in Libya and enable them to develop evidence-based policy initiatives, health awareness campaign and intervention programs for mental health disorders in Libya.