Relationship Between Depression, Generalized Anxiety, and Metabolic Syndrome Among Buddhist Temples Population in Nakhon Pathom-Thailand

Depression and anxiety have been associated with type 2 diabetes in studies predominantly in high-income countries, but little is known about this association in Southeast Asia. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of major depressive disorder (MDD), generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), and metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the relationship between these variables in Nakhon Pathom province in Thailand. A cross-sectional sample of temple members (35 - 65 years) from 12 randomly selected Buddhist temples in Nakhon Pathom province participated in the study in 2016. MetS components were assessed using blood chemistry and anthropometric measurements. MDD and GAD were assessed with the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) and the Generalized anxiety disorder 7-item (GAD-7) scale, respectively. Logistic and linear regression was used to determine associations between MDD, GAD, and MetS. Of the 401 participants, 144 (35.9%) fulfilled MetS criteria. 61 (15.2%) participants screened positive for MDD and 25 (6.2%) for GAD. The prevalence of MDD (Odds Ratio, OR = 1.55, Confidence Interval, CI = 0.81-2.95) and GAD (OR = 1.20, CI = 0.53 - 2.75) was higher among participants with MetS than among those without MetS, but this was not significant. There are no significant relationships between MDD, GAD, and MetS among the Buddhist temples population in Nakhon Pathom in Thailand.