Common Mental Health Disorders and Their Current Prescription Patterns in Saudi Arabia's Primary Healthcare Settings

Background The mental healthcare program is widely implemented in primary healthcare settings in Saudi Arabia. It consisted of early screening and management of mental health disorders associated with chronic health conditions. Family physicians are authorized to prescribe selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) for early management of mental health disorders in primary healthcare centers (PHCs). The aim of the study is exploring the prevalence of various types of mental health disorders and to assess the prescribing pattern of SSRIs in PHCs. Materials and methods A cross-sectional study based on the data from electronic health records, telephone interviews, and prescriptions of individuals administered SSRIs at PHCs. Results Among 219 patients visiting PHCs, 67.6% were female participants. Forty-four percent of the patients were 20-30 years old and 61.2% of them received SSRI medications. The most prevalent chronic condition was diabetes (22.5%) followed by hypertension (20.5%) and asthma (6.4%). The most prevalent mental disorder was major depressive disorder (MDD; 78.1%), followed by anxiety disorder (7.3%), panic disorder (6.4%), and MDD with anxiety disorders (5.5%). Conclusion Implementing mental healthcare programs in PHCs is believed to promote population health. MDD was the predominant mental health disorder among patients visiting PHCs, and SSRIs were the most prescribed medications in this setting. This suggests that mental healthcare programs in PHCs are effective in improving mental health outcomes.