Comorbidity and social phobia: evidence from clinical,epidemiologic, and genetic studies

This paper reviews evidence from clinical, epidemiologic, and family studies regarding the association between social phobia and other syndromes. Social phobia is strongly associated with other anxiety disorders, substance abuse, and affective disorders in both clinical and community samples. An average of 80% of social phobics identified in community samples meet diagnostic criteria for another lifetime condition. Social phobia is most strongly associated with other subtypes of anxiety disorders, with an average of 50% of social phobics in the community reporting a concomitant anxiety disorder including another phobic disorder, generalized anciety, or panic disorder. Approximately 20% of subjects in the community meet lifetime criteria for a major depressive disorder. The onset of social phobia generally precedes that of all other disorders, with the exception of simple phobia. Both clinical severity and treated prevalence are consistently greater among social phobics with comorbid disorders The results of family and twin studies reveal that shared etiologic factors explain a substantial proportion of the comorbidity between social phobia and depression, whereas the association between social phobia and alcoholism derives from a nonfamilial causal relationship between the two conditions. Clinical and phenomenologic implications of these findings are discussed.     

Multiple sclerosis and headache co-morbidity. A case-control study

The prevalence of primary headache (PH) in a multiple sclerosis (MS) sample vs. control healthy subjects was investigated at a neurological clinic in 2004–2005: 122 of 238 (51%) MS patients and 57 of 238 (23%) controls proved to be affected by headache. The groups did not differ for the rates of PH types. Headache types of MS patients were comparable to those of PH patients that were observed at the same institute in a case-control comparison. First symptoms of headache preceded those of MS in two thirds of cases. Headache features did not significantly change after MS onset. Comorbidity of MS and PH could be explained by some common clinical and biological traits.     

Ageing and comorbidity among low-income psychiatric outpatients

The objective of this study was to determine if non-psychiatric morbidity increases with age in a group of low-income psychiatric outpatients. Data on demographics, presenting complaints, DSM-III diagnoses and use of psychiatric services were collected on all individuals (N = 382) admitted to a psychiatric outpatient clinic serving low-income population. Non-psychiatric morbidity was identified on the basis of medical history, physical examination, and laboratory investigations. Bivariate analyses were done to determine the significance of the associations of comorbidity with other variables. A logistic regression was done using the presence or absence of comorbidity as the dependent variable. Age was the only variable which was significantly predictive of comorbidity. Additional resources should be allocated for the diagnosis and treatment of comorbidity among low-income elderly.     

Do patient characteristics,disease, or treatment explain social inequality in survival from colorectal cancer?

This paper investigates the association between individually measured socioeconomic status (SES) and all-cause survival in colorectal cancer patients, and explores whether factors related to the patient, the disease, or the surgical treatment mediate the observed social gradient.     

217例老年精神病人的躯体共病性研究

目的：探讨老年精神科病人躯体疾病共病情况及其意义。方法：调查217例老年精神科病人的精神科诊断及合弄躯体疾病情况。结果：88．9％的病人合并有躯体疾病，每一个病人合并的躯体疾病的病种数平均为2．18种。合并的躯体疾病多见的是脑血管病、高血压、心脏病、感染、糖尿病、慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）等。结论：老年精神科病人的躯体共病现象具有普遍性，其躯体疾病分布具有普通老年科病人的特点。躯体共病影响精神疾病的疗效预后及老年精神科的临床工作模式。     

Advances in development of medications for alcoholism treatment

 Over the past decade, research on medications to treat alcohol problem has flourished. Naltrexone and acamprosate are tangible fruits of such endeavors and each has now earned approval in a large number of countries. Recent studies on naltrexone indicate that patient compliance is important if full benefits are to be achieved. Several laboratory studies with human subjects are beginning to elucidate the mechanisms underlying efficacy of naltrexone, as well as explaining variability of response among subpopulations of drinkers. In addition to these two agents, recent investigations have also demonstrated that the antidepressants desipramine, imipramine, and fluoxetine reduce mood-related symptoms and, to some extent, drinking itself in alcoholics who are depressed. Research to date suggests that opioid antagonists and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors are more effective in reducing alcohol intake when used in combination. Clinical issues, methodology, and directions for future research are also reviewed in this article. In particular, issues addressed include alternative dosage regimens, necessary duration of treatment, employment of medications in combination, integration of pharmacologic agents with behavioral interventions, enhancement of patient compliance, and concurrent treatment of psychiatric comorbidity. Received: 16 December 1997 / Final version: 15 April 1998     

Comorbid disorders in hospitalized bipolar adolescents compared with unipolar depressed adolescents

This study examined comorbid psychiatric disorders in adolescents with bipolar disorder. Hospitalized bipolar adolescents (N=10) were compared to hospitalized adolescents with unipolar depression (N=33), and to adolescents with nonaffective psychiatric disorders (N=11). Results showed conduct disorder, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, psychosis, and having any DSM-III-R psychoactive substance use disorder were all significantly more common in the bipolar group than the unipolar depressed group. Comorbid anxiety disorder was present in 40–45% of the subjects in the unipolar and bipolar groups, but in none of the control group subjects. This study is supported in part by a grant to Dr. Borchardt from the University of Minnesota Graduate School.     

2010—2021年国内外老年多重慢病研究热点分析

背景 随着人口老龄化进程的加快,同时患有多种慢病已成为老年人的常态,老年多重慢病相关研究也不断丰富,但鲜有对其研究进展及热点进行分析。目的 分析国内外老年多重慢病的研究热点,揭示近十年来（2010—2021年）老年多重慢病领域研究前沿的热点主题,为相关研究者追踪前沿信息提供参考。方法 基于文本挖掘技术和文献计量学等方法,检索Web of Science核心合集、Scopus、中国知网、万方数据知识服务平台、维普网、PubMed、中华医学会期刊全文数据库、APA-PsycINFO美国心理学会数据库中老年多重慢病领域的相关文献,检索时间为2010—2021年。使用CiteSpace 6.1.3、PASW 18、BICOMB 2.04等软件对文献的发文量趋势、来源、作者、机构、关键词等方面进行分析及可视化,并绘制战略坐标图对领域研究热点进行分析。结果 最终纳入老年多重慢病相关文献9 392篇,其中外文文献5 776篇,中文文献3 616篇。2010—2021年老年多重慢病领域中外文献发文量均呈指数型增长,中文文献年增长率为13.27%,外文文献年增长率为15.84%,该领域正处于发展阶段。中...     

The Validity of the Neale and Kendler Model-Fitting Approach in Examining the Etiology of Comorbidity

Given that knowledge regarding the etiology of comorbidity between disorders can have a significant impact on research regarding the classification, treatment, and etiology of the disorders, the ability to reject incorrect hypotheses regarding the causes of comorbidity is very important. A simulation study was conducted to assess the validity of the Neale and Kendler (1995) model-fitting approach in examining the etiology of comorbidity between two disorders. First, data were simulated under the assumptions of the 13 alternative comorbidity models described by Neale and Kendler. Second, model-fitting analyses testing the comorbidity models were conducted on the simulated datasets. Thirteen sets of data with varying model parameters were simulated to test Neale and Kendler's assertion that their model-fitting approach is appropriate across a range of potential prevalences and degrees of familiality. The validity of the model-fitting approach in examining unselected twin data and a combination of selected family data and unselected family data was explored. The model-fitting approach successfully discriminated several classes of comorbidity models, although discrimination between models within classes of related models was less accurate. Results suggest that the model-fitting approach can be a useful tool in examining the etiology of the comorbidity between disorders if the caveats of the present study's results are considered carefully. As predicted by Neale and Kendler, variations in the disorder prevalences and familial correlations did not affect the validity of their model-fitting approach, but affected the power to discriminate the correct model. As suggested by Neale and Kendler, the model-fitting approach can be applied to both unselected and selected data and to both twin and family data.     

老年抑郁症和焦虑障碍共病患者的临床特征

目的探讨老年抑郁症和焦虑障碍共病患者的临床特征。方法根据美国精神障碍诊断手册第四版(DSM-IV)的诊断标准,把78例老年抑郁症患者分为两组,单纯抑郁症组(抑郁症组,N=44)及抑郁症和焦虑障碍共病组(共病组N=34)。对所有对象评定一般人口学资料及老年抑郁量表(GDS)、汉密顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、汉密顿焦虑量表(HAMA)、简易智能状态评定量表(MMSE)和健康状况调查问卷(SF-36)等,比较两组患者间差异。结果抑郁症组与共病组患者的性别、年龄、病程、居住情况、家族史、民族、发病诱因和受教育年限等方面的差异无统计学意义(均P>0.05)。GDS总分(14.0±1.2/12.1±2.0,t=4.92)、HAMD(38.1±4.0/33.4±4.7,t=4.35)和HAMA总分(22.6±5.5/11.7±2.7,t=10.93)及其因子分、HAMD第3项(自杀)条目分、SF-36躯体功能(79.2±13.6/69.1±13.6,t=3.25)、社交功能(70.0±21.2/50.0±22.5,t=4.02)评分共病组均高于抑郁症组差异有统计学意义(均P<0.05)。结论老年抑郁症和焦虑障碍共病患者较单纯抑郁患者的抑郁和焦虑症状更重、自杀风险大、生活质量更差。