Systematic reviewindependent cross-checkabstract checked I-CHK-107 standard review
Anxiety disorders became more common worldwide since 1990
Updated trends in the global prevalence and burden of mental disorders, 1990-2023: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2023.
Overview
GBD 2023 Mental Disorder Collaborators. Lancet 2026 · PMID 42167272 · DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00519-2
Age-standardised prevalence of anxiety disorders increased between 1990 and 2023.
Does the study support the specific claim? Partly · Methodological quality: moderate
Plain-language summary
Study explained simply
- What did the researchers want to find out?
How did the prevalence and burden of mental disorders change from 1990 to 2023?
- How was the study done?
Systematic analysis and Bayesian meta-regression (GBD 2023)
- How many people, animals or samples were studied?
204 countries
- What was actually found?
1.17 billion prevalent cases in 2023; age-standardised prevalence of all mental disorders +24.2% (11.4-41.4) since 1990; notable increases in age-standardised prevalence for anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder and others. Anxiety disorders ranked 11th of 304 causes of DALYs.
- How large was the observed effect?
1.17 billion prevalent cases in 2023; age-standardised prevalence of all mental disorders +24.2% (11.4-41.4) since 1990; notable increases in age-standardised prevalence for anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder and others. Anxiety disorders ranked 11th of 304 causes of DALYs.
- What do the results mean in everyday life?
The observation that anxiety is more common is partly right; the cause is not shown.
- What are the study's limitations?
Modelled estimates, sparse data in many countries; No information on causes of trends; Erratum published (Lancet 2026;408:698)
- What does it say about Elawady's specific claim?
Supports only the trend observation, not the attribution to chicken production.
- Do the results apply to Germany and Europe?
Includes European and North-African countries.
- What can explicitly not be concluded from this study?
Cannot attribute the trend to any food.
Scientific in-depth review
1. Full reference
- Authors
- GBD 2023 Mental Disorder Collaborators
- Journal
- Lancet
- Year
- 2026
- Identifier
- PMID 42167272 DOI 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)00519-2
- Verification
- verified – PubMed efetch 2026-10-26; Crossref 2026-10-26
- Retracted
- no
- Corrections
ErratumIn: Lancet 2026;408(10556):698 (doi 10.1016/S0140-6736(26)01659-4)
- Extent checked
- abstract only
- Conflicts of interest and funding
Gates Foundation, Queensland Health, University of Queensland (abstract)
2. Research question
How did the prevalence and burden of mental disorders change from 1990 to 2023?
3. Study design and population
- Study design
- Systematic review – Systematic analysis and Bayesian meta-regression (GBD 2023)
- Population
Global population, 204 countries and territories
- Country
global
- Period
1990-2023
- Sample size
204 countries
- Inclusion and exclusion criteria
as described in the abstract
4. Methods and endpoints
- Exposure / intervention
Time (1990-2023)
- Comparator
1990
- Endpoints
Prevalence, DALYs of 12 mental disorders incl. anxiety disorders
- Statistical methods
as reported in the abstract
5. Actual results
- Results
1.17 billion prevalent cases in 2023; age-standardised prevalence of all mental disorders +24.2% (11.4-41.4) since 1990; notable increases in age-standardised prevalence for anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder and others. Anxiety disorders ranked 11th of 304 causes of DALYs.
- Absolute risks
not reported
- Authors' conclusion
Mental disorders impose a large and in some instances increasing burden in all countries; stronger surveillance is needed.
6. Strengths
- Global standardised method
- Uncertainty intervals
7. Weaknesses
- Modelled estimates, sparse data in many countries
- No information on causes of trends
- Erratum published (Lancet 2026;408:698)
8. Risk of bias
- Orienting tool
- none applicable
- Type of assessment
- simplified assessment (abstract only)
- Full formal assessment
- no
- Overall risk of bias
- not assessable
- Rationale
Modelling study; not a causal analysis.
9. Assessment of the statistical interpretation
Shows an increase in age-standardised anxiety prevalence, partly supporting the observation of more anxiety, but gives no cause.
10. Relevance to the specific claim
Tests the factual premise that anxiety/panic became more common; says nothing about chicken.
11. Independent contrary findings
12. Transferability to Germany and Europe
13. Overall methodological judgement
Age-standardised prevalence of anxiety disorders increased between 1990 and 2023.
| Multidimensional assessment | |
|---|---|
| Authenticity of the source | verified |
| Methodological quality | moderate |
| Risk of bias | not assessable |
| Precision of results | moderate |
| Directness | indirect |
| Reproducibility | unknown |
| Consistency with the overall evidence | consistent |
| Regional transferability | moderate |
| Adequacy of the interpretation (by the archive) | not applicable |