Depression and anxiety in Swedish primary health care: prevalence, incidence, and risk factors

Understanding the incidence and recurrence of depression and associated risk factors in 9 years of follow-up: Results from a population-based sample

INTRODUCTION

This paper aims to analyse depression incidence and recurrence rates in a Spanish adult cohort, while also investigating associated risk factors based on depression status at baseline.

METHODS

Longitudinal, prospective study data of the Edad con Salud cohort was used, which comprises a sample representative of the non-institutionalized adult populace at the national level with a final sample size of 2655 Spanish adults. Competing risk regression models were estimated to determine the main risk factors for incident and recurrent depression.

RESULTS

The study found depression incidence at 6.11 per 1,000 person years, with recurrence rates up to 47.8 and 21.3 per 1,000 person years in those with depression at baseline and only history of depression, respectively, with higher rates found among women. Sociodemographic factors were found to primarily predict incident depression, while health and mental health indicators were significant predictors for recurrent depression.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results confirm the augmented risk of experiencing a new episode among individuals with proximal depression, where different risk factors seemed to play a role depending on episode type and depression proximity. These findings provide valuable insights for developing preventive strategies for depression in both the general population and those at risk.

Association between neighborhood socioeconomic status and healthcare utilization among individuals with a first diagnosis of major depressive disorder in primary care in the Stockholm region

BACKGROUND

Population-based surveys suggest that low socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher prevalence of depressive symptoms, while their healthcare utilization is not necessarily higher.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the association between neighborhood socioeconomic status (NSES) and healthcare utilization among individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD).

METHOD

This was a retrospective longitudinal study of all adults with a first MDD diagnosis within primary care during 2010-2018. NSES was defined by the household area of residence using the Mosaic™ classification. Outcomes were AD (antidepressants) (N06A) dispensation and psychiatric outpatient visit, both of which are outlined as options in depression guidelines. Cox multivariable regression was used for the time to event analyses.

RESULTS

A total of 117,193 individuals were included, of which 87,499 (75 %) were dispensed an AD and 35,989 (31 %) had a recorded psychiatric outpatient visit. Low NSES was associated with lower rate of AD dispensation in the first-year post-diagnosis (HR: 0.95, 95 % CI: 0.93-0.96, p < 0.001) and higher rate of psychiatric visit (HR: 1.10, 95 % CI: 1.07-1.12, p < 0.001) compared with high NSES.

LIMITATIONS

Data sources have high coverage. A minority of psychiatric care provided by non-publicly financed providers was not included. It was not possible to adjust for depression severity.

CONCLUSION

Socioeconomic status as measured by the neighborhood of residency was associated with AD dispensation and psychiatric outpatient visit in MDD, also in a healthcare system with virtually free access. This is of relevance for clinical practice, considering the focus on equity of care and the increase in depression prevalence worldwide.

Comparing Transdiagnostic Risk Factors: Predicting Emergence of Significant Depressive, Anxiety, and Substance Abuse Symptoms Among Juvenile Delinquents

In a 7-year 11-wave study of low-SES adolescents (N = 856, age = 15.98), we compared multiple well-established transdiagnostic risk factors as predictors of first incidence of significant depressive, anxiety, and substance abuse symptoms across the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Risk factors included negative emotionality, emotion regulation ability, social support, gender, history of trauma, parental histories of substance abuse, parental mental health, and socioeconomic status. Machine learning models revealed that negative emotionality was the most important predictor of both depression and anxiety, and emotion regulation ability was the most important predictor of future significant substance abuse. These findings highlight the critical role that dysregulated emotion may play in the development of some of the most prevalent forms of mental illness.

Stress, depression, and risk of dementia - a cohort study in the total population between 18 and 65 years old in Region Stockholm

BACKGROUND

Chronic stress and depression are potential risk factors for mild cognitive impairment and dementia, including Alzheimer disease. The aim was to investigate whether any such risk is additive.

METHODS

Cohort study including 1 362 548 people (665 997 women, 696 551 men) with records in the Region Stockholm administrative healthcare database (VAL). Exposure was a recorded ICD-10 diagnosis of chronic stress, depression, or both, recorded in 2012 or 2013. Outcome was a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease, other dementia, or mild cognitive impairment recorded from 2014 through 2022. Odds ratios with 99% confidence intervals (CI) adjusted for age, sex, neighborhood socioeconomic status, diabetes, and cardiovascular disorders were calculated.

RESULTS

During the exposure period, 4 346 patients were diagnosed with chronic stress, 40 101 with depression, and 1 898 with both. The average age at baseline was around 40 years in all groups. In the fully adjusted model, the odds ratio of Alzheimer disease was 2.45 (99% CI 1.22-4.91) in patients with chronic stress, 2.32 (99% CI 1.85-2.90) in patients with depression, and 4.00 (99% CI 1.67-9.58) in patients with chronic stress and depression. The odds ratio of mild cognitive impairment was 1.87 (99% CI 1.20-2.91) in patients with chronic stress, 2.85 (99% CI 2.53-3.22) in patients with depression, and 3.87 (99% CI 2.39-6.27) in patients with both. When other dementia was analyzed, the odds ratio was significant only in patients with depression, 2.39 (99% CI 1.92-2.96).

CONCLUSIONS

Documented chronic stress increased the risk of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease. The same was seen with depression. The novel finding is the potential additive effect of chronic stress to depression, on risk of MCI and AD.

Risk factors for new antidepressant use after surgery in Sweden: a nationwide, observational cohort study

Background

Whilst somatic complications after major surgery are being increasingly investigated, the research field has scarce data on psychiatric outcomes such as postoperative depression. This study evaluates the impact of patient and surgical factors on the risk of depression after surgery using the proxy measure of prescribed and collected antidepressants.

Methods

An observational, registry-based, national multicentre cohort study of individuals ≥18 yr of age who underwent noncardiac surgery between 2007 and 2014. Exclusion criteria included history of antidepressant use defined by collection of a prescription within 5 yr before surgery. Participants were identified using a surgical database from 23 Swedish hospitals and data were linked to National Board of Health and Welfare registers for collection of prescribed antidepressants. Descriptive statistics were used for baseline data and logistic regression for predictive factors.

Results

Of 223 617 patients, 4.9% had a new prescription of antidepressants collected 31-365 days after surgery. Antidepressant prescription was associated with increasing age, female sex, and more comorbidities. The incidence of antidepressant prescription was highest after neurosurgery, vascular, and thoracic surgery. Affective and anxiety disorders were risk factors. In the whole cohort and within the aforementioned surgical subtypes, acute and cancer surgery increased the risk of antidepressant prescription.

Conclusions

This study brings novel insights to the epidemiology of postoperative antidepressant treatment in antidepressant-naive patients. One in 20 postoperative patients are prescribed antidepressants but with knowledge of risk factors, interventional strategies can be tested.

Rehabilitation cooperation and person-centred dialogue meeting for patients sick-listed for common mental disorders: 12 months follow-up of sick leave days, symptoms of depression, anxiety, stress and work ability - a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial from the CO-WORK-CARE project

OBJECTIVES

To study whether early and enhanced cooperation within the primary care centres (PCC) combined with workplace cooperation via a person-centred employer dialogue meeting can reduce days on sick leave compared with usual care manager contact for patients on sick leave because of common mental disorders (CMD). Secondary aim: to study lapse of CMD symptoms, perceived Work Ability Index (WAI) and quality of life (QoL) during 12 months.

DESIGN

Pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial, randomisation at PCC level.

SETTING

28 PCCs in Region Västra Götaland, Sweden, with care manager organisation.

PARTICIPANTS

30 PCCs were invited, 28 (93%) accepted invitation (14 intervention, 14 control) and recruited 341 patients newly sick-listed because of CMD (n=185 at intervention, n=156 at control PCCs).

INTERVENTION

Complex intervention consisting of (1) early cooperation among general practitioner (GP), care manager and a rehabilitation coordinator, plus (2) a person-centred dialogue meeting between patient and employer within 3 months.

CONTROL GROUP

regular contact with care manager.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

12 months net and gross number of sick leave days at group level.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

12 months depression, anxiety, stress symptoms, perceived WAI and QoL (EuroQoL-5 Dimensional, EQ-5D).

RESULTS

No significant differences were found between intervention and control groups concerning days of sick leave (intervention net days of sick leave mean 102.48 (SE 13.76) vs control 96.29 (SE 12.38) p=0.73), return to work (HR 0.881, 95% CI 0.688 to 1.128), or CMD symptoms, WAI or EQ-5D after 12 months.

CONCLUSIONS

It is not possible to speed up CMD patients' return to work or to reduce sick leave time by early and enhanced coordination among GP, care manager and a rehabilitation coordinator, combined with early workplace contact over and above what 'usual' care manager contact during 3 months provides.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03250026.

Association Between Mental Health and Reproductive System Disorders in Women: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Importance

Reproductive system and mental health disorders are commonly comorbid in women. Although the causes of this overlap remain elusive, evidence suggests potential shared environmental and genetic factors associated with risk.

Objective

To investigate the comorbidity between psychiatric and reproductive system disorders, both as broad diagnostic categories and among specific pairs of diagnoses.

Data Source

PubMed.

Study Selection

Observational studies published between January 1980 and December 2019 assessing prevalence of psychiatric disorders in women with reproductive system disorders and prevalence of reproductive system disorders in women with psychiatric disorders were included. The study did not include psychiatric and reproductive disorders triggered by life events (eg, trauma, infection, surgery) to address potential confounding.

Data Extraction and Synthesis

A search yielded 1197 records, of which 50 met the inclusion criteria for the qualitative and 31 for the quantitative synthesis in our study. A random-effects model was used for data synthesis and Egger test and I2 to assess study bias and heterogeneity. Data were analyzed from January to December 2022. This study followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guideline.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Psychiatric and reproductive system disorders.

Results

A total of 1197 records were identified, of which 50 met the inclusion criteria for qualitative and 31 for quantitative synthesis. Diagnosis of a reproductive system disorder was associated with a 2- to 3-fold increased odds of having a psychiatric disorder (lower bound odds ratio [OR], 2.00; 95% CI, 1.41-2.83; upper bound OR; 2.88; 95% CI, 2.21-3.76). The analysis focused on specific diagnoses described in the literature and found that polycystic ovary syndrome was associated with increased odds of depression (population-based studies OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.19-2.45; clinical studies OR, 2.58; 95% CI, 1.57-4.23) and anxiety (population-based studies OR, 1.69; 95% CI, 1.36-2.10; clinical studies OR, 2.85; 95% CI, 1.98-4.09). Chronic pelvic pain was also associated with both depression (OR, 3.91; 95% CI, 1.81-8.46) and anxiety (OR, 2.33; 95% CI, 1.33-4.08). Few studies investigated risk of other reproductive system disorders in women with psychiatric disorders, or reverse associations (risk of reproductive system disorder among women with a psychiatric diagnosis).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this systematic review and meta-analysis, a high rate of reported co-occurrence between psychiatric and reproductive disorders overall was observed. However, data for many disorder pairs were limited. The available literature focused overwhelmingly on affective disorders in polycystic ovary syndrome, overlooking a substantial portion of disease overlap. As such, the associations between the majority of mental health outcomes and conditions of the female reproductive system are largely unknown.

Anxiety and depression among medical staff facing SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in China

BACKGROUND

SARS-COV-2 vaccination is being carried out worldwide. However, little is known about the effect of SARS-COV-2 vaccination on psychological problems faced by the medical staff. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and factors contributing to anxiety and depression among medical staff facing SARS-COV-2 vaccination.

METHODS

The GAD-7 and the PHQ-9 scales were used to investigate the anxiety and depression among participants involved in SARS-CoV-2 vaccination. Multivariate logistics regression analysis method was used to assess the risk factors related to anxiety or depression.

RESULTS

A total of 6984 people responded to all the surveyed questions in our study, including 2707 medical staff and 4277 nonmedical staff. Of the participants, 680 reported anxiety, while 1354 reported depression. Higher anxiety levels were observed among medical staff (13.1 % vs. 7.6 % among the non-medical staff). Participants suffered from depression with higher numbers among medical staff (24.7 % vs. 16.0 % among the non-medical staff). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that female medical staff was at higher risk of anxiety and depression compared to their male counterparts (OR = 1.497; OR = 1.417). Pregnancy intention increased the risk of anxiety and depression among medical staff (OR = 1.601; OR = 1.724).

LIMITATIONS

Our findings may not be extrapolated to other countries.

CONCLUSION

Medical staff facing SARS-CoV-2 vaccination were more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression, especially the females planning for pregnancy. These results should assist in updating intervention guidelines for the mental health of medical staff facing vaccination.

Prevalence of anxiety disorders and association to socioeconomic position. Results from the Lolland Falster Health Study

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study is to describe the prevalence of anxiety disorders in a general population and the association to socioeconomic position (SEP), which has not been described in a Danish context before.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We present data on anxiety symptoms from respondents in the rural-provincial Lolland-Falster population Health Study (LOFUS). Analyses of the questionnaire responses to the Anxiety Symptom Scale were done by descriptive statistics and logistic regression analyses adjusted for sex and age.

RESULTS

14,834 LOFUS respondents who completed the Anxiety Symptom Scale were included; According to the original algorithm 371 (2.5%) had an anxiety disorder. The adjusted odds ratios (aOR) for anxiety disorder were strongly associated to SEP. We found aOR for anxiety to be: 3.8 (confidence interval (CI 95%) 2.54 - 5.92) for respondents with no postsecondary education compared to those with 3+ years of postsecondary education; 11.9 (CI 8.89 - 16.01) for respondents temporarily out of a job compared to those working; 9.4 (CI 6.06 - 14.51) for those experiencing constant financial strain compared to those not experiencing financial strain. Relaxing the criteria for anxiety to item 10 > 1, the prevalence raised to 3.9%. The association was unchanged related to education; however, the aOR dropped to 9 and 8 respectively, for being temporally out of job, or in financial strain every month- when doing same comparisons.

CONCLUSIONS

The 14-day prevalence of anxiety disorder seems low but strongly associated to SEP especially for individuals temporarily out of a job or experiencing financial strain.

Association of adolescent depression with subsequent prescriptions of anti-infectives and anti-inflammatories in adulthood: A longitudinal cohort study

New insights into how depression is linked to physical health throughout the lifespan could potentially inform clinical decision making. The aim of this study was to explore the association of adolescent depression with subsequent prescriptions of anti-infectives and anti-inflammatories in adulthood. The study was based on the Uppsala Longitudinal Adolescent Depression Study (ULADS), a Swedish prospective cohort study initiated in 1991. Depressed (n = 321) and non-depressed (n = 218) adolescents were followed prospectively using patient registries. The associations of adolescent depression (age 16-17 years) with subsequent prescription of anti-infectives and anti-inflammatories (age 30-40 years), were analysed using generalized linear models. Sub-analyses explored the impact of diagnostic characteristics in adolescence and reception of anti-depressants prescriptions in adulthood. The results suggest that females with persistent depressive disorder in adolescence have a higher rate of future prescriptions than non-depressed peers, with adjusted incidence rate ratio of 1.42 (1.06 to 1.92) for anti-infectives and 1.72 (1.10 to 2.70) for anti-inflammatories. These associations were mainly driven by those who were also prescribed antidepressants during the same period. Associations were less robust for females with episodic or subsyndromal depression in adolescence and for males. These findings emphasize the importance of integrated mental health services at the primary healthcare level.

Symptom patterns in patients newly sick listed for common mental disorders and associations with work-related and socioeconomic factors: a cross-sectional study in Swedish primary care

OBJECTIVE

The aim was to determine symptom patterns of depression, anxiety and stress-related mental disorders in newly sick listed due to common mental disorders in Swedish primary care patients and to examine associations with sick leave diagnosis, also in relation to socioeconomic, work-related and demographic factors.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

SETTING

Primary care in western Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

From a randomised controlled trial, patients aged 18-67, seeking primary care and on sick leave due to depression, anxiety and/or mental stress, in total 341 individuals, during 2018-2020.

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Patterns of depressive, anxiety and stress symptoms measured via self-assessment questionnaires (Montgomery Asberg Depression Rating Scale-Self (MADRS-S), General Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7), Karolinska Exhaustion Disorder Scale (KEDS)), sick leave diagnosis, perception of Work Ability Index and job strain via the job strain model.

RESULTS

A combination of high levels of depressive and stress-related symptoms was more frequent than single symptom clusters among persons with common mental disorders (CMD) on sick leave: 7% of the patients had scores above cut-off for one of the instruments MADRS-S, GAD-7 and KEDS, 12% above cut-off for two and 80% had above cut-off for all three instruments. There was no significant association between low socioeconomic status, high-job strain or working in healthcare/education and having scores above cut-off level for two or more of the instruments. Only perception of own poor work ability showed association with having scores above cut-off level for all three of the assessment instruments of CMD (OR 9.45, 95% CI 2.41 to 37.04).

CONCLUSION

The diagnosis on the sick certificate is not always congruent with the dominating symptom score level. In patients sick-leaved for CMDs, possible negative factors such as low socioeconomic status, low social support, high-work strain or working in healthcare/education sector did not show significant associations with self-assessment instruments of anxiety, depression and stress. Only patient's perception of own poor work ability was associated with high scores on all three domains.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

NCT03250026.

Care pathways for people with major depressive disorder: a European Brain Council Value of Treatment study

Background

Despite well-established guidelines for managing major depressive disorder, its extensive disability burden persists. This Value of Treatment mission from the European Brain Council aimed to elucidate the nature and extent of “gaps” between best-practice and current-practice care, specifically to:Identify current treatment gaps along the care pathway and determine the extent of these gaps in comparison with the stepped-care model and Recommend policies intending to better meet patient needs (i.e., minimize treatment gaps).

Methods

After agreement upon a set of relevant treatment gaps, data pertaining to each gap were gathered and synthesized from several sources across six European countries. Subsequently, a modified Delphi approach was undertaken to attain consensus among an expert panel on proposed recommendations for minimizing treatment gaps.

Results

Four recommendations were made to increase the depression diagnosis rate (from ~50% episodes), aiming to both increase the number of patients seeking help, and the likelihood of a practitioner to correctly detect depression. These should reduce time to treatment (from ~1 to ~8 years after illness onset) and increase rates of treatment; nine further recommendations aimed to increase rates of treatment (from ~25 to ~50% of patients currently treated), mainly focused on targeting the best treatment to each patient. To improve follow-up after treatment initiation (from ~30 to ~65% followed up within 3 months), seven recommendations focused on increasing continuity of care. For those not responding, 10 recommendations focused on ensuring access to more specialist care (currently at rates of ~5–25% of patients).

Conclusions

The treatment gaps in depression care are substantial and concerning, from the proportion of people not entering care pathways to those stagnating in primary care with impairing and persistent illness. A wide range of recommendations can be made to enhance care throughout the pathway.

Incidence of Anxiety in Latest Life and Risk Factors. Results of the AgeCoDe/AgeQualiDe Study

Research on anxiety in oldest-old individuals is scarce. Specifically, incidence studies based on large community samples are lacking. The objective of this study is to assess age- and gender-specific incidence rates in a large sample of oldest-old individuals and to identify potential risk factors. The study included data from N = 702 adults aged 81 to 97 years. Anxiety symptoms were identified using the short form of the Geriatric Anxiety Inventory (GAI-SF). Associations of potential risk factors with anxiety incidence were analyzed using Cox proportional hazard models. Out of the N = 702 older adults, N = 77 individuals developed anxiety symptoms during the follow-up period. The incidence rate was 51.3 (95% CI: 41.2-64.1) per 1000 person-years in the overall sample, compared to 58.5 (95% CI: 43.2-72.4) in women and 37.3 (95% CI: 23.6-58.3) in men. Multivariable analysis showed an association of subjective memory complaints (HR: 2.03, 95% CI: 1.16-3.57) and depressive symptoms (HR: 3.20, 95% CI: 1.46-7.01) with incident anxiety in the follow-up. Incident anxiety is highly common in late life. Depressive symptoms and subjective memory complaints are major risk factors of new episodes. Incident anxiety appears to be a response to subjective memory complaints independent of depressive symptoms.

Swedish primary healthcare practitioners' perspectives on the impact of arts on prescription for patients and the wider society: a qualitative interview study

Background

There is growing evidence that participating in arts activities are beneficial for mental health and wellbeing. Many patients attending primary care services have mental ill-health or social issues that healthcare practitioners currently do not have adequate ways of supporting. This study set out to explore the perspectives of primary healthcare practitioners on Arts on Prescription (AoP) as an additional referral pathway.

Methods

A qualitative exploratory descriptive approach within an interpretive framework using semi-structured interviews was used to explore healthcare practitioners’ perspectives and experiences of AoP programmes in Sweden. Ten interviews were conducted with healthcare practitioners in primary care. Data were analysed using an inductive thematic approach.

Results

The healthcare practitioners interviewed, recognised the need for more holistic approaches to care for those with mental health issues. They perceived that AoP is beneficial for patients in terms of motivation, creating routines, providing social interactions, and increasing self-esteem. In addition, AoP was felt to have the potential to impact upon current service provision and wider society. However, whilst the opportunity to refer patients to AoP in conjunction with conventional treatments was valued, participants reported that time pressures on practitioners and the continuing dominance of the medical model of care were barriers to wider acceptance amongst practitioners at the present time.

Conclusions

AoP enabled primary healthcare practitioners to offer an additional pathway for patients that is an adjunct to the traditional care pathway. However, the programmes tend to be project-based and often time limited. For programmes to be sustainable and be included as part of a wider range of interventions available to healthcare practitioners’ suitable levels of funding would be required.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12913-021-07258-7.

Evaluation of Sleep Habits, Generalized Anxiety, Perceived Stress, and Research Outputs Among Postgraduate Research Students in Hong Kong During the Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic

Purpose

The current study aimed to evaluate the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on sleep hygiene, anxiety levels, perceived stress, and research output among postgraduate research students in Hong Kong.

Methods

An online survey was developed and distributed to Hong Kong postgraduate research students. The sleep hygiene, anxiety levels, and perceived stress during the outbreak of COVID-19 were assessed. Questions about COVID-19’s impact on research outputs were asked.

Results

A total of 108 (response rate, 72%) full-time postgraduate students (PhD, 64%; M Phil, 8%; and Masters, 28%) participated. Approximately 83% of students reported poor sleep hygiene. Similarly, nearly 76% of students reported mild to severe levels of self-perceived anxiety levels. Most of the respondents (89%) expressed a moderate level of perceived stress. Sleep hygiene scores were moderately associated with anxiety levels (r = 0.384, p < 0.01) and perceived stress scores (r = 0.423, p < 0.01). Perceived stress was strongly correlated with anxiety levels (r = 0.601, p < 0.01). A hierarchical regression analysis revealed a significant association between respondents’ ethnicity (B = −0.923, p = 0.003), past medical history (such as hypertension, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders) (B = 1.112, p = 0.005), or poor sleep hygiene (B = 0.259, p = 0.000) and high levels of perceived stress. Additionally, prior medical history (such as hypertension, diabetes, and musculoskeletal disorders) (B = 1.957, p = 0.001) and poor sleep hygiene (B = 0.312, p = 0.000) were found to be strongly related to anxiety levels among postgraduate research students.

Conclusion

This is the first study that highlights poor sleep hygiene, moderate-to-severe levels of anxiety, and perceived stress during the COVID-19 pandemic in postgraduate research students in Hong Kong. These findings will help educators to prepare strategies to alleviate the stress and psychological problems in postgraduate students.

Prevalence and factors for anxiety during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic among the teachers in China

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence of anxiety and explore its factors during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic among the teachers in China.

METHODS

We involved 88611 teachers (response rate: 94.75%) from three cities of Henan Province, China, during February 4, 2020 and February 12, 2020. Anxiety was assessed by using Generalized Anxiety Disorder tool (GAD-7). Odds ratios (OR) with 95% Confidence intervals (CI) for potential factors of anxiety were estimated using multiple logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The overall prevalence of anxiety was 13.67%. The prevalence was higher for women than men (13.89% vs. 12.93%). The highest prevalence of anxiety was 14.06% (SE 2.51%) with age of 60 to 100 years in men, and 14.70% (SE 0.56%) with age of 50 to 60 years in women. Participants located in country-level city school had the lowest prevalence of anxiety across all age categories (12.01% for age of 18-30 years; 12.50% for age of 30-40 years; 12.13% for age of 40-50 years; 9.52% for age of 60-100 years). After adjusting for potential confounders, age, sex, education status, type of teachers, school location, information source, worried level, fear level, and behavior status were found to be associated with anxiety.

CONCLUSIONS

This large-scale study assessed the prevalence of anxiety in teachers, as well as its potential influence of factors, which is useful for international and national decision-makers.

Associations of Residential Greenness with Depression and Anxiety in Rural Chinese Adults

BACKGROUND

Depression and anxiety are top contributors to non-fatal health loss globally. Several studies have indicated the association between residential greenness and mental health.

METHOD

The participants (n = 27,366) were recruited from four counties in Henan Province, China during 2015-2017. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were evaluated using the Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) in the baseline survey. The level of residential greenness during the 3-year period before the baseline survey was assessed using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI). The mixed-effect linear regression model was applied to examine the associations of residential greenness with depression and anxiety.

RESULTS

The results of adjusted models showed that the score of PHQ-2 (Δscore and 95% confidence interval [CI]) decreased by -0.024 (-0.041, -0.006) and -0.022 (-0.038, -0.004) with an interquartile range (IQR) increase in NDVI and EVI within a 1,000-m buffer radius, respectively. The score of GAD-2 (Δscore and 95% CI) decreased by -0.024 (-0.040, -0.006) and -0.028 (-0.044, -0.011), in relation to an IQR increase in NDVI and EVI within a 1,000-m buffer radius, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

A higher level of residential greenness was significantly associated with lower risk of depression and anxiety in rural areas of Henan Province. Improving residential greenness accessibility may help to promote the mental health of rural populations.

Cannabis use and the risk of anxiety and depression in women: A comparison of three Swedish cohorts

BACKGROUND

The associations between cannabis use and anxiety or depression remain unclear. If cannabis affects these conditions, it is of interest to examine possible changes in cannabis use over time, in relation to anxiety and depression, as cannabis potency has increased in recent decades.

METHODS

Cohorts from the Women and Alcohol in Gothenburg study (n = 1 100), from three time periods were used to examine associations over time between cannabis use and anxiety and depression. Logistic regression analyses were used and relative excess risk due to interaction (RERI) was calculated to examine potential additive interactions between period of cannabis use, cannabis use, and anxiety or depression.

FINDINGS

Cannabis use was associated with anxiety in the oldest cohort (examined 1986-1992, born 1955/65), OR = 5.14 (1.67-15.80, 95 % CI), and with both anxiety and depression in the youngest cohort (examined 2000-2015, born 1980/93), OR = 1.66 (1.00-2.74, 95 % CI) and 2.37 (1.45-3.86, 95 % CI), respectively. RERI was significant between cannabis use and depression in the youngest cohort when compared with older cohorts (1.68 (0.45-2.92, 95 % CI)).

LIMITATIONS

Cross-sectional data prevent statements on causality, though between-cohort comparisons are possible.

CONCLUSION

The association between cannabis use and depression becomes more pronounced when adding the effect of period of use rather than looking at the effect of cannabis use itself. This study provides clinicians and public health workers with scientifically underpinned knowledge regarding the link between cannabis use and depression, of particular importance given increasing cannabis potency.

Dose-response association of sleep quality with anxiety symptoms in Chinese rural population: the Henan rural cohort

BACKGROUND

The epidemiological evidence on the association of sleep quality on anxiety symptoms has been inconclusive. This study aimed to explore the association between sleep quality and anxiety symptoms in rural Chinese population and investigate whether age, lifestyles, and chronic diseases modified this association.

METHODS

A total of 27,911 participants aged 18-79 years from the Henan Rural Cohort Study were included in the study. Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scale. Poor sleep quality was defined as PSQI ≥6. Anxiety symptoms were evaluated with the two-item generalized anxiety disorder scale (GAD-2). Individual with score ≥ 3 was viewed as having anxiety symptoms. Logistic regression and restricted cubic spline were conducted to examine the association of sleep quality with anxiety symptoms.

RESULTS

Altogether, 6087 (21.80%) participants were poor sleepers and 1557 (5.58%) had anxiety symptoms. The odds of anxiety were increased with increment of PSQI score after fitting restricted cubic splines. The poor sleep quality was associated with a higher possibility of anxiety symptoms [odd ratio (OR): 4.60, 95% confidence interval (CI): 3.70-5.72] in men, and (OR: 3.56, 95% CI: 3.10-4.09) in women for multivariable analysis. Further, stratified analyses showed that the effect of sleep quality on anxiety symptoms could be modified by age, marital status, smoking status, drinking status, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

CONCLUSIONS

A dose-response association between PSQI score and anxiety symptoms was found. In addition, the relationship between poor sleep quality and greater anxiety symptoms was observed in this rural population, especially in participants aged ≥60 years and those with unhealthy habits or had a chronic disease.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The trial was prospectively registered on July 6, 2015 and available online at ClinicalTrials.gov ID: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699 .

Correspondence Between the Neuropsychiatric Interview M.I.N.I. and the BDI-II and MADRS-S Self-Rating Instruments as Diagnostic Tools in Primary Care Patients with Depression

Objective

To investigate the correspondence between the diagnoses received by patients with symptoms of common mental disorder attending primary care, based on the diagnostic instrument International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.) and the self-assessment instruments such as Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale - self-rating version (MADRS-S), respectively.

Design

Data were collected from a prospective observational study, ADAS, between 2014 and 2015.

Setting

Twenty-eight primary care centers in Region Västra Gotaland, Sweden.

Patients

A total of 192 patients, 18-60 years of age, on sick leave ≥14 days, with mild/moderate depression, anxiety syndrome, and stress-related mental illness were included.

Main Outcome Measures

Scores of the assessment instruments (BDI-II and MADRS-S) on inclusion, sensitivity, specificity, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) for BDI-II and MADRS-S, respectively, with M.I.N.I used as diagnostic instrument.

Results

Using M.I.N.I. as gold standard, the BDI-II and MADRS-S showed almost the same sensitivity (86.9% and 87.4%, respectively), but specificity for MADRS-S was doubled compared to BDI-II (36% and 18%, respectively). There was a significant association between MADRS-S and M.I.N.I. (p=0.027). However, the same analysis between BDI and M.I.N.I. was not statistically significant (p= 0.635). NPV and PPV were calculated from assumed prevalences (10% and 75%) and were higher for MADRS-S compared to BDI-II. The PPV differences were between 2% and 7% and NPV differences were between 3% and 19%.

Conclusion

With M.I.N.I. as gold standard, MADRS-S performs better than BDI-II as a self-assessment tool in the primary care context for depression diagnostics.

Economic evaluation of mindfulness group therapy for patients with depression, anxiety, stress and adjustment disorders compared with treatment as usual

BACKGROUND

A randomised controlled trial found that a structured mindfulness group therapy (MGT) programme was as effective as treatment as usual (mostly cognitive-behavioural therapy) for patients with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders in Sweden (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01476371).

AIMS

To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of MGT compared with treatment as usual from both a healthcare and a societal perspective for the trial duration (8 weeks).

METHOD

The costs from a healthcare perspective included treatment as usual, medication and costs for providing MGT. The societal perspective included costs from the healthcare perspective plus savings from productivity gains for the trial duration. The effectiveness was measured as quality-adjusted life-years (QALY) using the EQ-5D-5L questionnaire and the UK value set. Uncertainty surrounding the incremental costs and effects were estimated using non-parametric bootstrapping with 5000 replications and presented with 95% confidence intervals and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves.

RESULTS

The MGT group had significantly lower healthcare and societal costs (mean differences -€115 (95% CI -193 to -36) and -€112 (95% CI -207 to -17), respectively) compared with the control group. In terms of effectiveness, there was no significant difference in QALY gain (mean difference -0.003, 95% CI -0.0076 to 0.0012) between the two groups.

CONCLUSIONS

MGT is a cost-saving alternative to treatment as usual over the trial duration from both a healthcare and a societal perspective for patients with a diagnosis of depression, anxiety or stress and adjustment disorders in Sweden.

Prevalence and risk factors for depression in outpatient departments of three general hospitals in China: a cross-sectional study

Objectives: To determine the prevalence and risk factors associated with depression of outpatients in three general hospitals in southern China.Methods: This hospital-based, cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in outpatient departments of Neurology, Gastroenterology, Cardiology and Gynaecology of three general hospitals between March and June 2016. A total of 5294 adult respondents (≥18 years) in clinic waiting rooms were recruited, and 4976 were eligible to participate in the study. The nine-item Patient Health Questionnare-9 (PHQ-9) Scale was used to assess the presence of depressive symptoms. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors associated with depressive symptoms.Results: The prevalence of depressive symptoms among outpatients was 26.0% (95% CI: 24.8-27.3%). Risk factors associated with depressive symptoms included younger age (OR = 0.960; 95% CI: 0.95-0.971), social alcohol drinking (OR = 1.339; 95% CI: 1.074-1.668) and sleep disturbance (OR = 3.678; 95% CI: 3.025-4.471).Conclusions: This study provides evidence that depressive symptoms are prevalent among outpatients of general hospitals. Moreover, younger age, alcohol consumption and sleep disturbance may potentially be useful for targeted screening and prevention for outpatients with depression seen in general hospitals.KeypointsThe prevalence of self-reported depressive symptoms is common in outpatients in clinical settings.Younger age, current alcohol drinking and sleep disturbance are the associated risk factors for depression in outpatient population.Alcohol prevention and sleep quality improvement need to be incorporated into strategies aimed at the prevention and management of depression.

Gender-specific prevalence and associated factors of major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder in a Chinese rural population: the Henan rural cohort study

Background

This study aims to investigate the prevalence and associated factors of major depressive disorder (MDD) and generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) by gender in Chinese rural adults.

Methods

A total of 29,993 participants aged from 18 to 79 years from the Henan Rural Cohort Study were included in this study. The Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-2 (GAD-2) were used to assess MDD and GAD through a face-to-face interview. Multivariate logistic regression model was conducted to analyze the associated factors for MDD and GAD.

Results

The age-standardized prevalence of MDD and GAD (and 95%CI) in the total sample were 5.41% (5.17–5.66%) and 4.94% (4.71–5.18%), respectively. Besides, the crude prevalence in women were significantly higher than men for both MDD (6.81% vs. 4.77%) and GAD (6.63% vs. 3.93%) (both P < 0.001). Tetrachoric correlation test showed high comorbidity between MDD and GAD (r = 0.88, P = 0.01). Further analysis revealed that age, sex, marital status, educational level, per capita monthly income, drinking, physical activity, and body mass index were associated with MDD and GAD in the overall sample. Gender difference was found among age groups for MDD (P_interaction < 0.001).

Conclusions

These findings showed that Chinese rural adults were at low risk for prevalence of MDD and GAD. Women had higher prevalence and risks for MDD and GAD compared with men, indicating that women deserved more attention. Gender-specific interventions on the modifiable associated factors are urgently needed to improve the mental conditions for Chinese rural population.

Clinical trial registration

The Henan Rural Cohort Study has been registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Register (Registration number: ChiCTR-OOC-15006699). Date of registration: 2015-07-06.

Prevalence of temporomandibular disorder pain, jaw noises and oral behaviours in an adult Italian population sample

To evaluate the prevalence of temporomandibular disorder pain (TMD-pain), temporomandibular joint (TMJ) noises, oral behaviours in an Italian adult population sample, their possible association with gender, oral behaviours, self-reported facial trauma and orthodontic treatment. Subjects older than 18 years were recruited from general population in public spaces during their daily life. A specific questionnaire was developed to collect data on TMD-pain, TMJ noises, oral behaviours, orthodontic treatment and facial trauma. A total of 4299 subjects were included in the study. The most common symptom in the sample was TMJ clicking (30.7%), followed by TMD-pain (16.3%) and TMJ crepitus (10.3%). Oral behaviours were reported in 29% of the sample; 43.6% of the sample reported a previous or ongoing orthodontic treatment. TMD-pain and TMJ clicking were significantly associated to gender, oral behaviours and a positive history of previous facial trauma. Crepitus was significantly associated to oral behaviours, facial trauma and higher age. Ongoing orthodontic treatment was significantly associated to TMD-pain and TMJ sounds. In a general Italian adult population sample, TMD-pain is associated to female gender and is less prevalent than TMJ clicking. TMDs are associated to trauma and oral behaviours.

Associations of physical activity with anxiety symptoms and disorders: Findings from the Swedish National March Cohort

OBJECTIVE

Regular physical activity (PA) is associated with less self-reported anxiety, but prospective studies linked to clinician diagnoses of anxiety disorder remain scarce. We examined whether the PA levels recommended for general health are related to anxiety symptoms and disorders.

METHOD

In total, 43,863 Swedish adults were surveyed in 1997 and responses linked to medical registers until 2010. Weekly durations of habitual moderate and vigorous leisure time PA were self-reported. Cross-sectional and prospective relationships between the total duration (minutes) of PA, 0-149 ('below'), 150-299 ('achieve'), and ≥300 min ('exceed') with self-reported anxiety symptoms and incident anxiety disorder were explored. Associations were explored using logistic and Cox proportional hazard regression models.

RESULTS

Of 27,053 participants with complete data (mean age = 49.0 years, SD = 15.9, 66% female), 76% met the recommended duration of PA (≥150 min), and 38% exceeded this duration. At baseline, 2573 participants (9.5%) reported elevated anxiety symptoms. In cross-sectional analyses, engaging in ≥150 min of MVPA/week was associated with 24% (OR = 0.76, 95% CI = 0.68-0.86) lower odds of anxiety symptoms. Exceeding the weekly duration was associated with 36% (OR = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.57-0.72) lower odds. During the 13-year follow-up, 198 incident cases of anxiety disorder (0.8%) were identified. No significant prospective relationships were found.

CONCLUSIONS

Engaging in leisure time PA at levels recommended for general health may reduce the risk of elevated anxiety symptoms. As the incidence of anxiety disorder was likely under-estimated, further prospective studies are needed to determine the relationship between PA and incident anxiety disorder.

Evidence-Based Brief Psychological Treatment for Emotional Disorders in Primary and Specialized Care: Study Protocol of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Emotional Disorders (EDs) are very prevalent in Primary Care (PC). However, general practitioners (GPs) have difficulties to make the diagnosis and the treatment of this disorders that are usually treated with drugs. Brief psychological therapies may be a new option to treat EDs in a PC context. This article aims to present a study protocol to evaluate the effectiveness and the efficiency of an adaptation to brief format of the "Unified Protocol (UP) for the transdiagnostic treatment of EDs." This is a single-blinded RCT among 165 patients with EDs. Patients will be randomly assigned to receive brief psychological treatment based on UP, conventional psychological treatment, conventional psychological treatment plus pharmacological treatment, minimum intervention based on basic psychoeducational information, or pharmacological treatment only. Outcome measure will be the following: GAD-7, STAI, PHQ-9, BDI-II, PHQ-15, PHQ-PD, and BSI-18. Assessments will be carried out by blinded raters at baseline, after the treatment and 6-month follow-up. The findings of this RCT may encourage the implementation of brief therapies in the PC context, what would lead to the decongestion of the public health system, the treatment of a greater number of people with EDs in a shorter time, the reduction of the side effects of pharmacological treatment and a possible economic savings for public purse. Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrial.gov, identifier NCT03286881. Registered September 19, 2017.

Association between prescribed antidepressants and other prescribed drugs differ by gender: a nationwide register-based study in Sweden

BACKGROUND

People with depression are prescribed more drugs than people in general, partly due to comorbidity with other conditions. However, little research has been done on depression-related drug use from a gender perspective.

AIM

Examine the association between antidepressants, other types of prescribed drugs, and polypharmacy, by gender.

METHODS

Data on drugs dispensed October to December 2016 to all Swedish citizens aged 18-84 years were collected from the Swedish prescribed drug register. Logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the associations between antidepressants and other drugs, by gender.

RESULTS

For both men and women, associations were found between antidepressants and drugs for alimentary tract problems, respiratory problems, blood, nervous system, analgesics, and polypharmacy. However, for women, but not men, associations were also found for drugs for diabetes, musculoskeletal problems, dermatological problems, and systemic hormones.

CONCLUSIONS

Associations were found between antidepressants and many other types of drugs for both men and women; indicating comorbidity between depression and other conditions. Further, some of the associations between antidepressants and other drugs were found to be specific among women. Whether this indicates that men and women differ in comorbidity between depression and other conditions cannot be concluded based on this cross-sectional study. However, comorbidity impairs the possibility of recovery; in the somatic condition as well as the depression. Thus, physicians need to be aware that the association between antidepressants and other types of drugs are more common among women than men.

Relationship of anxiety with joint pain and its management: A population survey

OBJECTIVES

The aims of the present study was to examine the associations between the severity of pain and anxiety in a community population reporting joint pain, and to investigate the management of joint pain in the presence of comorbid anxiety.

METHODS

A population survey was carried out of people aged ≥45 years, registered with eight general practices in Cheshire, Shropshire and Staffordshire, UK. Respondents were asked to report pain intensity in their hands, hips, knees and feet (on a numerical rating scale), anxiety symptoms (Generalized Anxiety Disorder seven-item [GAD-7] scale) and guideline-recommended treatments used to manage pain. Clinical anxiety was defined by a GAD-7 score of 10 or more.

RESULTS

A total of 11,222 respondents with joint pain were included in the analysis, with 1,802 (16.1%) reporting clinical anxiety. Respondents reporting more severe pain were more likely to report clinical anxiety (severe versus mild pain, odds ratio [OR] 5.36, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.56 to 6.31). The number of pain sites was also positively associated with clinical anxiety (four versus one site; OR 3.64, 95% CI 3.09 to 4.30). Those with clinical anxiety were less likely to undertake general fitness exercises (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.52 to 0.70), but more likely to diet (OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.21 to 1.69), use walking aids (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.32 to 1.77) and assistive devices (OR 1.24, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.49), and more likely to use opioids (OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.18 to1.52).

CONCLUSIONS

Anxiety is common among patients presenting to primary care with joint pain. Patients with anxiety are likely to manage their joint pain differently to those without. Case-finding to identify and treat anxiety would be appropriate in this population, with caution about opioid prescribing and consideration of exercise as an intervention.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of internet-mediated cognitive behavioural therapy for depression in the primary care setting: results based on a controlled trial

OBJECTIVE

To perform a cost-effectiveness analysis of a randomised controlled trial of internet-mediated cognitive behavioural therapy (ICBT) compared with treatment as usual (TaU) for patients with mild to moderate depression in the Swedish primary care setting. In particular, the objective was to assess from a healthcare and societal perspective the incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) of ICBT versus TaU at 12 months follow-up.

DESIGN

A cost-effectiveness analysis alongside a pragmatic effectiveness trial.

SETTING

Sixteen primary care centres (PCCs) in south-west Sweden.

PARTICIPANTS

Ninety patients diagnosed with mild to moderate depression at the PCCs.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

ICERs calculated as (Cost_ICBT-Cost_TaU)/(Health outcome_ICBT-Health outcome_TaU)=ΔCost/ΔHealth outcomes, the health outcomes being changes in the Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II) score and quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs).

RESULTS

The total cost per patient for ICBT was 4044 Swedish kronor (SEK) (€426) (healthcare perspective) and SEK47 679 (€5028) (societal perspective). The total cost per patient for TaU was SEK4434 (€468) and SEK50 343 (€5308). In both groups, the largest cost was associated with productivity loss. The differences in cost per patient were not statistically significant. The mean reduction in BDI-II score was 13.4 and 13.8 units in the ICBT and TaU groups, respectively. The mean QALYs per patient was 0.74 and 0.79 in the ICBT and TaU groups, respectively. The differences in BDI-II score reduction and mean QALYs were not statistically significant. The uncertainty of the study estimates when assessed by bootstrapping indicated that no firm conclusion could be drawn as to whether ICBT treatment compared with TaU was the most cost-effective use of resources.

CONCLUSIONS

ICBT was regarded to be as cost-effective as TaU as costs, health outcomes and cost-effectiveness were similar for ICBT and TaU, both from a healthcare and societal perspective.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ID NR 30511.

Sex differences and the influence of social factors in a Chilean urban psychiatric hospital population

BACKGROUND

The epidemiological literature has reported differences by sex in the prevalence of psychiatric diagnoses. However, we know little about how other socio-demographic factors participate in these differences.

AIM

To identify the socio-demographic factors that correlate with prevalent psychiatric diagnoses in women and men in a Chilean urban psychiatric hospital population.

METHOD

Socio-demographic information (age, educational level, marital status, family group and work status), psychiatric diagnoses and sex of the population were collected for 3,920 patients of a tertiary care hospital during a period of 8 years (2007-2014). The data were subjected to bivariate and multivariate analyses comparing the results by sex.

RESULTS

Among the most prevalent psychiatric diagnoses, those significantly correlated with sex were eating disorders and major depression (women) and schizophrenia (men). Socio-demographic factors behave differently in men and women regarding those diagnoses. Among the differences, working and being married correlated directly with the diagnosis of depression only among women. Living alone correlated directly with the diagnosis of schizophrenia among men, but correlated inversely among women.

CONCLUSION

Dissimilar associations between sex, psychiatric diagnosis and socio-demographic factors found in this Latin American sample invite us to reflect on how social conditions crosscut the relation between sex and psychopathology and to include gender perspectives in psychiatric practices.

Self-stigma and the intention to seek psychological help online compared to face-to-face

OBJECTIVES

The present study aims to investigate the impact of help-seeking self-stigma on the preference and intention to seek psychological treatment delivered online compared to face-to-face.

DESIGN

This study uses survey data from two Swedish samples. Sample 1 consists of 267 students (78.7% women) with a mean age of 24.5 (SD = 6.1). Sample 2 consists of 195 primary care patients (56.9% women) with a mean age of 45.3 (SD = 17.7).

RESULTS

The number of participants who preferred online treatment was higher if seeking psychological help for a perceived stigmatized problem compared to mental health problems in general. The odds ratios for choosing treatment online over face-to-face were 6.41, 95% CI [4.05, 10.14] in Sample 1 and 11.19, 95% CI [5.29, 23.67] in Sample 2. In addition, findings suggest that higher levels of help-seeking self-stigma predicted higher intention to seek treatment online compared to face-to-face.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that online interventions may facilitate help-seeking among individuals deterred by stigma.

Common adult psychiatric disorders in Swedish primary care where most mental health patients are treated

BACKGROUND

The overall aim of this study is to present descriptive data regarding the treated prevalence of nine common psychiatric and substance use disorders in the first Primary Care Registry (PCR) in Sweden: Major Depression (MD), Anxiety Disorders (AD), Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Adjustment Disorder (AdjD), Eating Disorders (ED), Personality Disorder (PD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and Drug Abuse (DA).

METHOD

We selected 5,397,675 individuals aged ≥18. We examined patterns of comorbidity among these disorders and explored the association between diagnoses in the PCR and diagnoses obtained from Hospital and Specialist care. We explored the proportion of patients with these nine disorders that are only treated in primary health care.

RESULTS

For four of our disorders, 80% or more of the cases were present only in the PCR: AdjD, DA, AD and MD. For two disorders (OCD and ED), 65-70% of cases were only found in the PCR. For three disorders (PD, AUD, and ADHD), 45-55% of the patients were only present in the PCR.

CONCLUSION

The PCR will, in the future, likely prove to be an important tool for studies in psychiatric epidemiology.

Are men under-treated and women over-treated with antidepressants? Findings from a cross-sectional survey in Sweden

Aims and method To examine gender differences in self-reported depression and prescribed antidepressants (ADs). The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was used to assess depression, and information on prescribed ADs was obtained from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register. Results Depression was reported by 11.7% of the participants (12.3% men and 11.2% women). ADs were prescribed for 7.6% of the participants (5.3% men, 9.8% women). Among men, 1.8% reported depression and used ADs, 10.5% reported depression but did not use ADs, and 3.6% used ADs but did not report depression. The corresponding figures for women were 2.6%, 8.6% and 7.2%. Clinical implications Men report depression to a greater extent than women but are prescribed ADs to a lesser extent, possibly a sign of under-treatment. Women are prescribed ADs without reporting depression more often than men, possibly a sign of over-treatment. Although the causes remain unclear, diagnostic and treatment guidelines should benefit from considering gender differences in these respects.

The effect of mindfulness group therapy on a broad range of psychiatric symptoms: A randomised controlled trial in primary health care

BACKGROUND

The need for psychotherapy in primary health care is on the increase but individual-based treatment is costly. The main aim of this randomised controlled trial (RCT) was to compare the effect of mindfulness-based group therapy (MGT) with treatment as usual (TAU), mainly individual-based cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), on a broad range of psychiatric symptoms in primary care patients diagnosed with depressive, anxiety and/or stress and adjustment disorders. An additional aim was to compare the effect of MGT with TAU on mindful attention awareness.

METHODS

This 8-week RCT took place in 2012 at 16 primary care centres in southern Sweden. The study population included both men and women, aged 20-64years (n=215). A broad range of psychiatric symptoms were evaluated at baseline and at the 8-week follow-up using the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90). Mindful attention awareness was also evaluated using the Mindful Attention Awareness Scale (MAAS).

RESULTS

In both groups, the scores decreased significantly for all subscales and indexes in SCL-90, while the MAAS scores increased significantly. There were no significant differences in the change in psychiatric symptoms between the two groups. The mindfulness group had a somewhat larger change in scores than the control group on the MAAS (P=0.06, non-significant).

CONCLUSIONS

No significant differences between MGT and TAU, mainly individual-based CBT, were found in treatment effect. Both types of therapies could be used in primary care patients with depressive, anxiety and/or stress and adjustment disorders, where MGT has a potential to save limited resources.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01476371.

Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy and physical exercise - Effects studied by automated telephone assessments in mental ill-health patients; a randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVES

Mental ill-health has become a large health problem and it is important for caregivers to provide effective treatment alternatives. REGASSA is a randomized controlled study performed in primary care to study the effects of 12 weeks of Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy (ICBT) and physical exercise (PE) compared with treatment as usual (TAU) in patients with mild-to-moderate mental ill-health. The present study aimed to examine the results of these treatment alternatives on psychological functioning, stress, and sleep disturbances.

METHODS

The study comprised 879 patients with mental ill-health taking part in the REGASSA study. Data were collected by Interactive Voice Response (IVR), a computerized, automated telephone technique. The treatments were compared at baseline, twice during treatment, at the end of treatment and at three follow-ups after treatment. Measures used were the Outcome Questionnaire-45, the short versions of the Perceived Stress Scale, and the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire.

RESULTS

Linear mixed models showed that the patients in ICBT and PE had better results than in TAU on psychological functioning and sleep disturbances, p < .001, with weak-to-moderate effect sizes. On stress there were no differences; all groups made improvements. Women had stronger effects than men. More patients recovered on psychological functioning (OQ-45) in ICBT and PE than in TAU.

CONCLUSIONS

Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy and PE proved to be effective treatment alternatives for patients with mild-to-moderate mental ill-health in improving psychological functioning, stress, and sleep disturbances and could be useful alternatives in primary care.

PRACTITIONER POINTS

Internet-based cognitive behaviour therapy and physical exercise proved to be effective treatment alternatives for mental ill-health patients in primary care. Automated techniques (Interactive Voice Response) could be useful for following treatment course in large groups of patients in the health care. It is important to use measures that capture different aspects of patients' health problems. The recruitment of participants was based on patients' interest and inclusion criteria which may have affect the generalizability.

Association of help-seeking behavior with depression and anxiety disorders among gastroenterological patients in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND/AIMS

There is a high prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders among gastroenterological outpatients. Relatively few studies have been done on the help-seeking behavior among those who suffer from gastrointestinal symptoms with or without psychiatric disorders. We aimed to characterize the help-seeking behavior of gastroenterological outpatients and to evaluate if this behavior is linked to the presence of depression and anxiety.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A cross-sectional study was carried out in gastroenterology clinics in four hospitals in Riyadh between February and September 2013. A self-administrated questionnaire was developed and administered to patients. Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) questionnaires were used to diagnose depression and anxiety, respectively.

RESULTS

A total of 440 patients completed the study questionnaire. The average age was 36.0 ± 12.8 years and 69% of the patients were males. Complaints included abdominal pain (58%), heartburn (29%), diarrhea or constipation (25%), appetite or weight changes (22%), and nausea or vomiting (16%). Depression was diagnosed in 36%, while anxiety was diagnosed in 28% of the patients. The first intervention was use of medications (68%) and undergoing endoscopy (16%), while few patients initially used herbs or Islamic incantation (7.5%). This first intervention was done primarily (59%) in private sector hospitals rather than government sector hospitals (36%). The rates of depression and anxiety in our patients were higher among those who suffered from multiple complaints for longer durations and with less satisfaction with the offered services.

CONCLUSION

Depression and anxiety are common comorbidities in gastroenterological outpatient population, especially those who have a chronic course of multiple gastrointestinal complaints.