Anxiolytic Medication Use in Low‐ Middle‐ and High‐Income Countries: A World Mental Health Surveys Report

These data do not definitely answer the question of how often benzodiazepines should be prescribed in clinical practice, but they usefully inform discussions of how to optimize their use. It is noteworthy that anxiolytic medications, particularly benzodiazepines, are largely prescribed for anxiety and sleep, and that they are widely perceived to be either very or somewhat effective by users. However, more targeted prescription of these agents may be necessary; in particular antidepressant intervention should be prioritized in the pharmacotherapy of major depressive disorder.

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Publication Details

Journal
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
Published
2025-12-31
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1002/hup.70031
Primary Topic
Sleep and related disorders
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
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article

Anxiolytic Medication Use in Low‐ Middle‐ and High‐Income Countries: A World Mental Health Surveys Report

Giovanni de Girolamo, Aimée Karam, Juan Carlos Stagnaro, Annelieke M. Roest et al.
Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and Experimental
Sleep and related disorders
article

Anxiolytic Medication Use in Low‐ Middle‐ and High‐Income Countries: A World Mental Health Surveys Report

Giovanni de Girolamo, Aimée Karam, Juan Carlos Stagnaro, Annelieke M. Roest, Julia R Pozuelo, Peter Woodruff, Alan E. Kazdin, Cristian Vlădescu, R. C. Kessler, Meredith Harris, Stephanie Chardoul, Dan J. Stein, David S. Baldwin, Jordi L. Alonso, Oye Gureje, Irving Hwang, Daisuke Nishi, Ronny Bruffaerts, Maria Carmen Viana, Laura Helena Andrade, Josep M. Haro, the WHO World Mental Health Survey collaborators, Nancy A. Sampson, Daniel V. Vigo, Sergio Aguilar‐Gaxiola, Ali Al‐Hamzawi, José Posada‐Villa, Viviane Kovess‐Masfety, José‐Miguel Caldas‐de‐Almeida, Corina Benjet, Elie G. Karam, Fernando Navarro‐Mateu
article en

Abstract

These data do not definitely answer the question of how often benzodiazepines should be prescribed in clinical practice, but they usefully inform discussions of how to optimize their use. It is noteworthy that anxiolytic medications, particularly benzodiazepines, are largely prescribed for anxiety and sleep, and that they are widely perceived to be either very or somewhat effective by users. However, more targeted prescription of these agents may be necessary; in particular antidepressant intervention should be prioritized in the pharmacotherapy of major depressive disorder.

Human Psychopharmacology Clinical and ExperimentalVol. 41(1)
Harvard University (US), University of British Columbia (CA), University of Cape Town (ZA), The University of Queensland (AU), École des Hautes Études en Santé Publique (FR), University of Groningen (NL), Universitat Pompeu Fabra (ES), Université Paris Cité (FR), Universidad de Buenos Aires (AR), University of Michigan (US), Park Centre for Mental Health (AU), University College Hospital, Ibadan (NG), Saint George Hospital (LB), Yale University (US), University of Oxford (GB), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (ES), Queensland Centre for Mental Health Research (AU), Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli (IT), University of Al-Qadisiyah (IQ), Parc Sanitari Sant Joan de Déu (ES), Hospital Del Mar (ES), Municipal Institute for Medical Research (ES), Department of Health (IE), Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (BR), Institute for Development, Research, Advocacy and Applied Care (LB), Instituto Murciano de Investigación Biosanitaria (ES), Servicio Murciano de Salud (ES), Istituti di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IT), Instituto Nacional de Psiquiatría Ramón de la Fuente Muñiz (MX), Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (ES), Universidad Colegio Mayor de Cundinamarca (CO), UC Davis Health (US), National School of Public Health, Management and Professional Development (RO), University of Southampton (GB), Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (BR), Universitat de Barcelona (ES), Universidad de Murcia (ES), Universidade Nova de Lisboa (PT), University of Sheffield (GB), KU Leuven (BE)
Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly and Company, Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline, World Health Organization, Universidad CES, European Commission, Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo, Ministerio de Salud de la Nación, U.S. Public Health Service, Pfizer Foundation, Pan American Health Organization, Executive Agency for Health and Consumers, National Institute of Mental Health, Fogarty International Center
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Sleep and related disorders
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