JP Journal of Biostatistics

The JP Journal of Biostatistics is a highly regarded open-access international journal indexed in the Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI). It focuses on the application of statistical theory and methods in resolving problems in biological, biomedical, and agricultural sciences. The journal encourages the submission of experimental papers that employ relevant algorithms and also welcomes survey articles in the fields of biostatistics and epidemiology.

Submit Article

IMPACT OF FOLLOW-UP REGULARITY ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES IN ANXIETY PATIENTS: AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH USING NON-PARAMETRIC TESTS

Authors

  • Sangeeta Barthakur
  • Sarita Barman

Keywords:

anxiety disorder, Fisher’s Exact Test, Mann-Whitney U Test, anxiety symptoms, follow-up regularity, treatment response

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17654/0973514325018

Abstract

Objective: Anxiety disorder is one of the most prevalent mental health disorders worldwide and despite its widespread impact, anxiety is often overlooked with many individuals avoiding professional help due to stigma, lack of awareness, or limited access to mental health resources. Early intervention and consistent follow-up care are crucial in managing anxiety and preventing it from escalating into more severe mental and physical health conditions. This study aims to assess how follow-up regularity impacts the treatment response among anxiety patients.

Methodology: The data for this study was collected from the Psychiatric Outpatient Department (OPD) of Gauhati Medical College and Hospital (GMCH) over a period of 12 years (2012-2023). A total of 14333 patient records were reviewed, of which 1356 patients were confirmed cases of anxiety. The study employed two approaches: one based on the types of anxiety symptoms present and the other on the number of symptoms. Fisher’s Exact Test was used to determine the association between treatment response and follow-up regularity based on symptom types, while the Mann-Whitney U Test assessed the impact of regularity on the number of symptoms present in the patients.

Results: The findings from the study indicated a significant association between follow-up regularity and treatment response, i.e., patients who maintained regular follow-ups showed significantly better outcomes in terms of treatment response, while those who were irregular have much poorer responses.

Conclusion: This study emphasizes the crucial role of regular and timely follow-ups in effective symptom management and improved treatment outcomes for anxiety patients. Timely adherence to follow-up appointments ensures better recovery, while irregular follow-ups can lead to delayed or worsening symptoms.

Received: May 3, 2025
Revised: May 20, 2025
Accepted: June 2, 2025

References

Anxiety Disorders: Fact Sheets: Newsroom, World Health Organization, 2023.

S. Bazely, How anxiety impacts everyday life, MentalHealth.com, 2023.

I. Heinig, S. Knappe and H. U. Wittchen, Help-seeking behavior and treatment barriers in anxiety disorders: results from a representative German community survey, Community Ment. Health J. 57 (2021), 1505-1517.

https://doi.org/10.1007/s10597-020-00767-5.

NeuroLaunch Editorial Team, The hidden dangers of untreated anxiety: Long-term effects and consequences, NeuroLaunch.com, 2024.

https://neurolaunch.com/untreated-anxiety/.

R. Ivanovs, A. Kivite, D. Ziedonis, I. Mintale, J. Vrublevska and E. Rancans, Association of depression and anxiety with cardiovascular co-morbidity in a primary care population in Latvia: a cross-sectional study, BMC Public Health 18(1) (2018), 328. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-018-5238-7.

The importance of early intervention for people facing mental health challenges, Mental Health First Aid, USA, 2021.

N. Warren, Beyond the first appointment: Understanding the importance of follow-up appointments with your psychiatrist, Roots Mental Wellness, 2023.

J. Khan, J. A. Khan, S. Kumari and D. Charan, Treatment non-adherence patterns among patients with mental illness: a study from the district mental health care center in India, Cureus 16(2) (2024).

S. B. Sriramulu, A. R. Elangovan, M. Isaac and J. R. Kalyanasundaram, Treatment non-adherence pattern among persons with neuropsychiatric disorders: a study from a rural community mental health centre in India, Int. J. Soc. Psychiatry 68 (2022), 844-851. 10.1177/00207640211008462.

F. Baekeland and L. Lundwall, Dropping out of treatment: A critical review, Psychological Bulletin 82(5) (1975), 738-783. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0077132.

S. Grover, S. Mallnaik, S. Chakrabarti and A. Mehra, Factors associated with dropout from treatment: an exploratory study, Indian J. Psychiatry 63 (2021), 41-51. 10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_87_19.

Resident Contributor, The importance of continuity in psychiatric care for long-term recovery, Resident, 2024.

American Psychiatric Association, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed., text rev.), 2022.

https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425787.

R. A. Fisher, Mathematics of a Lady Tasting Tea, J. R. Newman, ed., The World of Mathematics 3, Courier Dover Publications, 1956.

4.5-Fisher’s Exact Test, STAT 504: Analysis of Discrete Data, The Pennsylvania State University. https://online.stat.psu.edu/stat504/lesson/4/4.5.

H. B. Mann and D. R. Whitney, On a test of whether one of two random variables is stochastically larger than the other, The Annals of Mathematical Statistics 18(1) (1947), 50-60.

S. C. Gupta and V. K. Kapoor, Fundamentals of Mathematical Statistics, 11th ed. S. Chand and Sons, New Delhi, 2011.

S. Barthakur, Symptoms of schizophrenia and regularity in treatment: a stochastic analysis, OJPAS (Open Journal of Psychiatry and Allied Sciences) 11 (2020), 100-104. 10.5958/2394-2061.2020.00022.1.

C. R. Mehta and N. R. Patel, A network algorithm for performing Fisher’s Exact Test in contingency tables, Journal of the American Statistical Association 78(382) (1983), 427-434. 10.2307/2288652.

Jerrold H. Zar, Biostatistical Analysis, New Jersey: Prentice Hall International, INC, 1998.

A. Akinshin, Confusing tie correction in the classic Mann-Whitney U Test implementation, 2023.

E. Lehmann and H. D’Abrera, Nonparametrics: Statistical methods based on ranks, Holden-Day, 1975.

S. Siegal, Nonparametric Statistics for the Behavioral Sciences, McGraw-Hill, 1956.

Downloads

Published

2025-07-03

Issue

Vol. 25 No. 2 (2025)

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2025 PUSHPA PUBLISHING HOUSE, PRAYAGRAJ, INDIA

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

_________________________

Licensing Terms:

Attribution: Credit Pushpa Publishing House as the original publisher, including title and author(s) if applicable.

Non-Commercial Use: For non-commercial purposes only. No commercial activities without explicit permission.

No Derivatives: Modifying or creating derivative works not allowed without written permission.

Contact Puspha Publishing House for more info or permissions.

How to Cite

IMPACT OF FOLLOW-UP REGULARITY ON TREATMENT OUTCOMES IN ANXIETY PATIENTS: AN ANALYTICAL APPROACH USING NON-PARAMETRIC TESTS. (2025). JP Journal of Biostatistics, 25(2), 339-357. https://doi.org/10.17654/0973514325018

Similar Articles

1-10 of 35

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.