Prevalence of Depression and Anxiety in Ecuadorian Adults: A Narrative Systematic Review

Abstract

The present narrative systematic review aims to estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety in the Ecuadorian adult population, a field little explored despite the growing global burden of these mental disorders. The importance of this review lies in the need to synthe-size scattered evidence on the prevalence of these disorders in Ecuador, where there is no previous systematic review. The methods included an exhaustive search in five electronic databases and complementary sources, selecting 33 observational studies. The results reveal wide variability in prevalence rates, influenced by methodological heterogeneity and the characteristics of the studied populations. Depression figures reported in the included studies ranged from 5.6% to 86.81%, while the prevalence of anxiety showed an even more extreme range, from 0.02% to 77.1%. Consistently higher prevalences are observed in vulnerable groups such as health professionals, hospitalized patients, and university students, which underscores the urgency of standardizing research methodologies and strengthening mental health policies in Ecuador, focusing on early detection and psychosocial interventions.