ReviewCureus2025
Prevalence of Depression Among Urban and Rural Residents of Saudi Arabia Compared With Other Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Systematic Review.
Review in Cureus, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
1 citing paper in PubMed.
- Barriers to mental healthcare seeking among individuals attending primary healthcare centers in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.Journal of family & community medicineArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide, with significant variations in prevalence across urban and rural populations. In the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries, rapid urbanization and socioeconomic changes have introduced new mental health challenges. However, comprehensive data on depression disparities between urban and rural residents remain limited. This systematic review aims to explore depression prevalence in Saudi Arabia and other GCC nations, examining associated factors and regional variations. Following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, we conducted a systematic search of PubMed, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies published between 2010 and 2024. Studies published between 2010 and 2024 were included if they assessed depression prevalence among adults in urban or rural settings within GCC countries using validated diagnostic tools. Studies were excluded if they focused on narrow subpopulations or lacked clear geographic classification. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers, and study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies and Assessment of Multiple Systematic Reviews 2 for reviews. Twenty-four studies were included, with 18 from Saudi Arabia, four from the UAE, two from Oman, and one from Qatar. No studies from Bahrain or Kuwait met the inclusion criteria. Prevalence ranged widely: 2.1-77.8% in Saudi Arabia, 2.1-21.1% in the UAE, and 8.1-21.7% in Oman. Rural-specific data were scarce, though indirect evidence suggested higher rates in rural Saudi Arabia (e.g., 62.3% in northern regions). Women, younger adults in Qatar, older adults in Saudi Arabia, and individuals with lower socioeconomic status consistently showed higher depression rates. Stigma and underdiagnosis (74% undetected cases in Saudi Arabia) were key barriers. Depression prevalence in the GCC varies significantly by country, urbanization level, and demographic factors. The lack of rural-specific data and studies from Bahrain and Kuwait highlights critical research gaps. Culturally tailored interventions, improved mental health infrastructure, and anti-stigma campaigns are urgently needed, particularly for women and rural populations. Future research should standardize measurement tools and prioritize disaggregated urban-rural analyses to guide equitable policy-making.
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Registered trials
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.