METHODS: The sample included 54,826 subjects (64.73% females; 34.15% males; 1.11% nonbinary gender) from 40 countries (COMET-G study). The analysis was based on the registration of previous history that could serve as a fair approximation for the lifetime prevalence of various medical conditions.
RESULTS: About 24.5% reported a history of somatic and 26.14% of mental disorders. Mental disorders were by far the most prevalent group of medical conditions. Comorbidity of any somatic with any mental disorder was reported by 8.21%. One-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients were also suffering from a mental disorder depending on the severity and multicomorbidity. Bipolar and psychotic patients and to a lesser extent depressives, manifested an earlier (15-20 years) manifestation of somatic multicomorbidity, severe disability, and probably earlier death. The overwhelming majority of patients with mental disorders were not receiving treatment or were being treated in a way that was not recommended. Antipsychotics and antidepressants were not related to the development of metabolic syndrome.
CONCLUSIONS: The finding that one-third to almost two-thirds of somatic patients also suffered from a mental disorder strongly suggests that psychiatry is the field with the most trans-specialty and interdisciplinary value and application points to the importance of teaching psychiatry and mental health in medical schools and also to the need for more technocratically oriented training of psychiatric residents.
METHODS: Chi-square tests were used for initial screening to select only those variables which would show an initial significance. Risk Ratios (RR) were calculated, and a Multiple Backward Stepwise Linear Regression Analysis (MBSLRA) was followed with those variables given significant results at screening and with the presence of distress or depression or the lack of both of them.
RESULTS: The most important risk factors for depression were female (RR = 1.59-5.49) and non-binary gender (RR = 1.56-7.41), unemployment (RR = 1.41-6.57), not working during lockdowns (RR = 1.43-5.79), bad general health (RR = 2.74-9.98), chronic somatic disorder (RR = 1.22-5.57), history of mental disorders (depression RR = 2.31-9.47; suicide attempt RR = 2.33-9.75; psychosis RR = 2.14-10.08; Bipolar disorder RR = 2.75-12.86), smoking status (RR = 1.15-5.31) and substance use (RR = 1.77-8.01). The risk factors for distress or depression that survived MBSLRA were younger age, being widowed, living alone, bad general health, being a carer, chronic somatic disorder, not working during lockdowns, being single, self-reported history of depression, bipolar disorder, self-harm, suicide attempts and of other mental disorders, smoking, alcohol, and substance use.
CONCLUSIONS: Targeted preventive interventions are crucial to safeguard the mental health of vulnerable groups, emphasizing the importance of diverse samples in future research.
LIMITATIONS: Online data collection may have resulted in the underrepresentation of certain population groups.
MATERIAL AND METHODS: The history of mental disorders was used as a proxy for diagnosis. The data came from the COMET-G study (40 countries; 54,826 subjects, 64.73 % females, 35.45±13.51 years old). The analysis included descriptive statistics, Risk Ratios, t-tests, and ANCOVA's.
RESULTS: 24.14 % reported a history of any mental disorder (depression >12 %, non-affective psychosis and Bipolar disorder 1 % each, >20 % self-injury, >10 % had attempted suicide, 7.17 % illegal substance abuse). Most patients were not under any kind of treatment (59.44 %) and most were not receiving treatment as recommended (e.g. 90 % of Bipolar and 2/3 of psychotic patients). No treatment at all and psychotherapy as monotherapy were consistently related to poorer outcomes. In anxiety or depression, only antidepressant monotherapy and benzodiazepines, in Bipolar disorder only antipsychotic monotherapy in males and antidepressant monotherapy in females and in non-affective psychosis antipsychotics and psychotherapy in females only, were related to good outcomes. No treatment modality was related to a good outcome in those with a history of self-harm, suicidal attempts, or illegal substance use. Only depression and treatment with antidepressants were related to metabolic syndrome.
DISCUSSION: In the community, the overwhelming majority of mental patients do not receive appropriate treatment or, even worse, no treatment at all. The outcome is unfavourable for the majority and only a few selective treatment options seem to make a difference.
OBJECTIVE: To estimate the global, regional, and national prevalence and disability burden of anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa-and mortality attributable to anorexia nervosa-from 1990 to 2023, and to forecast prevalence to 2050.
DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Using Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023 methods, data were synthesized from systematic literature reviews, population surveys, and vital registration systems. Estimates were produced for 204 countries and territories from 1990 to 2023, with forecasts through 2050. These data were analyzed from October 2025 to August 2026.
EXPOSURE: Anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa diagnosis.
MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES: Counts and age-standardized rates with 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs) for anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa prevalence, years lived with disability (YLDs), and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and anorexia nervosa mortality, reported by age, sex, and location.
RESULTS: In 2023, an estimated 18.1 million people (95% UI, 13.9-24.0) globally were living with anorexia nervosa or bulimia nervosa, of whom 12.6 million (69.4%) were female, 5.5 million were male (30.6%), and 41.2% were aged 10 to 24 years. These cases accounted for 3.83 million DALYs (95% UI, 2.23-5.69). Since 1990, the global number of prevalent cases increased by 71.0%, while age-standardized prevalence and DALY rates rose by about 21%. Females experienced substantially higher prevalence and DALY rates than males. The highest age-standardized prevalence rates were observed in high-income regions, particularly Australasia and Western Europe, whereas the largest relative increases in age-standardized prevalence occurred in East Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Forecasts indicate continued increases in prevalent cases through 2050.
CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: This GBD 2023 analysis found that anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa contribute substantially to global nonfatal health loss. These findings support the integration of eating disorders into mental health surveillance, prevention, and service planning worldwide.