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ArticleSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2026

The burden of mental disorders and substance abuse in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study.

Yazan Nagi, Yazan A Al-Ajlouni, Omar Al Ta'ani, Magdalena Bak, Nour Makarem, Ali Haidar

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Article in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

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7citing papers in PubMed
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3 · Its place in the literature

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7 citing papers in PubMed.

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5 · Who and what money

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6 authors.

Yazan NagiSUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY, 11203, USA.
Yazan A Al-AjlouniStaten Island University Hospital, Staten Island, NY, 10304, USA. alajlouni.yazan@gmail.com.
Omar Al Ta'aniAllegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh, PA, 15212, USA.
Magdalena BakNew York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD), Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Nour MakaremDepartment of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, 10027, USA.
Ali HaidarIcahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, 10029, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundMental disorders pose significant morbidity and mortality risks globally. Despite this, research on mental health in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is scarce, hindered by social stigmas and limited healthcare expenditure. This study, utilizing the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) database, aims to address this gap by examining the prevalence, incidence, and demographic patterns of mental disorders in MENA.

methodsThis ecological study draws on the GBD data to assess the prevalence and burden of mental disorders and substance abuse across the MENA region from 1990 to 2019. Utilizing age-standardized rates of prevalence and Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs), we examine the evolving burden of mental disorders, variations among MENA countries, and trends in associated risk factors by age and gender.

resultsFrom 1990 to 2019, the MENA region witnessed varying trends in mental disorders. The age-standardized prevalence rate in 2019 was 14,938 per 100,000 individuals, experiencing a 2.1% decrease overall. However, all-age prevalence surged by 86.2%. Disorders like schizophrenia and depressive disorders exhibited substantial increases, contrasting with a 128.1% rise in substance use disorders. Temporal analysis revealed fluctuations in DALY trends, capturing the dynamic nature of mental health burdens over time. Risk factors, including bullying victimization and intimate partner violence, underwent shifts, reflecting changing contributors to mental health burden. CONCLUSION(S): Despite a decrease in age-standardized prevalence rates in 2019, the substantial all-age prevalence rise demands attention. Temporal analysis unraveled nuanced trends, emphasizing the complex interplay of sociocultural factors. The shifting prominence of risk factors underscores the dynamic nature of mental health burdens, necessitating region-specific interventions that address both prevalence patterns and contributing factors. Future research should delve into the specific sociocultural determinants influencing the observed trends, allowing for tailored interventions to mitigate the burden of mental health disorders in the MENA region.

Indexed as

Cost of IllnessMental DisordersSubstance-Related DisordersAdolescentAdultAfrica, NorthernAgedChildDisability-Adjusted Life YearsFemaleGlobal Burden of DiseaseHumansIncidenceMaleMiddle AgedMiddle EastDALYsGlobal Burden of Disease StudyMental disordersMiddle East and North Africa (MENA) RegionRisk factors

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.