Analysis of Spatiotemporal Characteristics in the Prevalence of Depressive Disorder and Anxiety Disorders Among Adolescents in Asia Before and After the COVID-19 Pandemic

Using data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study, this research systematically examines the spatiotemporal trends of depressive disorder and anxiety disorders among adolescents aged 15 to 19 years across 48 Asian countries/regions from 2016 to 2021. Pre-pandemic (2016-2019), South Asia, Southeast Asia, and West Asia exhibited significant mental disorder prevalence (eg, Iraq's anxiety disorder rate reached 7.79% in 2019). The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated mental health deterioration, particularly in East Asia (eg, Japan's anxiety rate rose from 3.78% to 4.29%) and high-baseline regions (India, Sri Lanka), with no improvement observed by 2021. We recommend cross-sector collaboration and school-based interventions to address regional disparities.