The relation between anger expression, depression, and somatic symptoms in depressive disorders and somatoform disorders

BACKGROUND: In previous studies, the relationship between either anger suppression and depression or anger suppression and somatic symptoms was examined. However, the relationship between anger expression, depression, and somatic symptoms was not examined in depressive disorders and somatoform disorders. METHOD: The DSM-IV-diagnosed subjects included 73 patients with depressive disorders and 47 patients with somatoform disorders. The Anger Expression Scale was used to assess the level of anger expression or suppression. The severity of depression was assessed using the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R). The Somatization Rating Scale and the SCL-90-R somatization subscale were used to assess the severity of somatic symptoms. Data were collected from March 2000 to March 2001. RESULTS: The results of the path analyses showed that in depressive disorder patients, anger expression had a stronger effect on somatic symptoms through depression than did anger suppression, although both anger expression and anger suppression had a significant indirect effect on somatic symptoms. The depressive disorder group also showed a significant but negative direct effect of anger suppression on anger expression in the path from anger suppression to anger expression to depression to somatic symptoms. However, only anger suppression had an indirect effect on somatic symptoms through depression in somatoform disorder patients. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that anger expression might play a more predominant role in depression and somatic symptoms of depressive disorder patients than anger suppression, but only anger suppression might be associated with depression and somatic symptoms of somatoform disorder patients. In addition, incomplete anger suppression followed by anger expression is likely to be associated with depression and somatic symptoms in depressive disorders.     

Predominance of anger in depressive disorders compared with anxiety disorders and somatoform disorders

OBJECTIVE: The object of this study was to make a comparison regarding various dimensions of anger between depressive disorder and anxiety disorder or somatoform disorder. METHOD: The subjects included 73 patients with depressive disorders, 67 patients with anxiety disorders, 47 patients with somatoform disorders, and 215 healthy controls (diagnoses made according to DSM-IV criteria). Anger measures--the Anger Expression Scale, the hostility subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), and the anger and aggression subscales of the Stress Response Inventory--were used to assess the anger levels. The severity of depression, anxiety, phobia, and somatization was assessed using the SCL-90-R. RESULTS: The depressive disorder group showed significantly higher levels of anger on the Stress Response Inventory than the anxiety disorder, somatoform disorder, and control groups (p < .05). The depressive disorder group scored significantly higher on the anger-out and anger-total subscales of the Anger Expression Scale than the somatoform disorder group (p < .05). On the SCL-90-R hostility subscale, the depressive disorder group also scored significantly higher than the anxiety disorder group (p < .05). Within the depressive disorder group, the severity of depression was significantly positively correlated with the anger-out score (r = 0.49, p < .001), whereas, in the somatoform and anxiety disorder groups, the severity of depression was significantly positively correlated with the anger-in score (somatoform disorder: r = 0.51, p < .001; anxiety disorder: r = 0.57, p < .001). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that depressive disorder patients are more likely to have anger than anxiety disorder or somatoform disorder patients and that depressive disorder may be more relevant to anger expression than somatoform disorder.     

Effectiveness of a meditation-based stress management program as an adjunct to pharmacotherapy in patients with anxiety disorder

OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a meditation-based stress management program in patients with anxiety disorder. METHODS: Patients with anxiety disorder were randomly assigned to an 8-week clinical trial of either a meditation-based stress management program or an anxiety disorder education program. The Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale (HAM-A), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAM-D), the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Beck Depression Inventory, and the Symptom Checklist--90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were used to measure outcome at 0, 2, 4, and 8 weeks of the program. RESULTS: Compared to the education group, the meditation-based stress management group showed significant improvement in scores on all anxiety scales (HAM-A, P=.00; STAI state, P=.00; STAI trait, P=.00; anxiety subscale of SCL-90-R, P=.00) and in the SCL-90-R hostility subscale (P=.01). Findings on depression measures were inconsistent, with no significant improvement shown by subjects in the meditation-based stress management group compared to those in the education group. The meditation-based stress management group did not show significant improvement in somatization, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and interpersonal sensitivity scores, or in the SCL-90-R phobic anxiety subscale compared to the education group. CONCLUSIONS: A meditation-based stress management program can be effective in relieving anxiety symptoms in patients with anxiety disorder. However, well-designed, randomized, and controlled trials are needed to scientifically prove the worth of this intervention prior to treatment.     

Bioenergetic exercises in inpatient treatment of Turkish immigrants with chronic somatoform disorders: a randomized, controlled study

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine whether bioenergetic exercises (BE) significantly influence the inpatient psychotherapeutic treatment results for Turkish immigrants with chronic somatoform disorders. METHOD: In a 6-week randomized, prospective, controlled trial, we treated a sample of 128 Turkish patients: 64 were randomly assigned to BE and 64 participated in gymnastic exercises in lieu of BE. The Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) and State-Trait Anger Expression Inventory (STAXI) were employed. RESULTS: According to the intent-to-treat principle, the bioenergetic analysis group achieved significantly better treatment results on most of the SCL-90-R and STAXI scales. CONCLUSIONS: BE appears to improve symptoms of somatization, social insecurity, depressiveness, anxiety, and hostility in the inpatient therapy of subjects with chronic somatoform disorders. Reduction of the anger level and reduction in directing anger inwards, with a simultaneous increase of spontaneous outward emotional expression, could be expected.     

The frequency of the psychiatric symptoms in the patients with dyspepsia at a university hospital

OBJECTIVE: According to the psychiatric hypothesis, the symptoms of dyspepsia may be due to depression, anxiety or a somatization disorder. We investigated the frequency of psychiatric symptoms in patients undergoing endoscopic procedures with dyspepsia, either with or without pathological findings, and compared this with control subjects without dyspeptic symptoms. METHODS: Ninety patients with dyspeptic symptoms and 90 control subjects participated in the study. Both the patients and the controls were asked to complete a questionnaire about socio-demographic characteristics, the Turkish version of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) and the Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90). In order for us to determine whether the criteria for any of the conditions listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) were met, the patients were asked to take part in the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV disorders. RESULTS: Of the participants, 47.8% had a psychiatric disorder according to DSM-IV criteria, somatoform disorder (44.2%) being the most common. While 42.2% patients were determined to have a pathological finding using endoscopic evaluation, 57.8% had no findings. Together with the somatization and obsessive-compulsive disorder subscale scores, the total SCL-90 score and the mean trait anxiety score were statistically significantly higher in participants with no pathological findings. There were trends for anxiety (13.2% vs. 7.7%) and mood (2.6% vs. 0.0%) disorders to be more frequent in patients with pathological findings, while somatoform disorder+depressive disorder (17.3% vs. 5.2%) was more frequent in patients with no findings, although the differences were not statistically significant (Z=0.7, P>.05). The scores of state-trait anxiety, somatization, obsession-compulsion, depression, anxiety, phobic anxiety and psychotism subscales, and the total SCL-90 score were statistically significantly higher in those participants without a pathological finding than in the controls. CONCLUSIONS: Regarding the high frequency of psychiatric disorders in patients with dyspeptic symptoms, we think that such patients should be evaluated by two separate departments, gastroenterology and psychiatry.     

精神分裂症和抑郁症伴焦虑障碍的研究

目的 了解精神分裂症和抑郁症住院病人与焦虑障碍的共病发生率及相关因素分析。方法 住院精神分裂症病人41例和抑郁病人40例,用简明精神病量表（BPRS）、Hamilton抑郁量表（HAMD）、Hamilton焦虑量表（HAMA）、Liebowitz社交焦虑量表（LSAS）进行评定。结果 精神分裂症病人焦虑障碍的共病率为29．26％,抑郁症与焦虑障碍的共病率为50L。LSAS与HAMA呈正相关（r=0.465)。有关精神分裂症和抑郁症病人共病焦虑障碍经多元逐步回归可排除药源性焦虑。结论 对精神分裂症和抑郁症共患焦虑障碍应引起临床高度重视。     

Serotonin-related gene pathways associated with undifferentiated somatoform disorder

It has been suggested that serotonergic hypofunction and serotonergic pathway genes underlie the somatic symptoms of somatoform disorders. We examined a variety of serotonin-related gene polymorphisms to determine whether undifferentiated somatoform disorder is associated with specific serotonin-related gene pathways. Serotonin-related polymorphic markers were assessed using single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping. One hundred and two patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder and 133 healthy subjects were enrolled. The genotype and allele frequencies of tryptophan hydroxylase (TPH)1 A218C, TPH2 rs1386494, serotonin receptor 2A-T102C (5-HTR 2A-T102C), 5-HTR 2A-G1438A and serotonin transporter (5HTTLPR) gene were compared between the groups. The Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression and the somatization subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R) were used for psychological assessment. Patients with undifferentiated somatoform disorder had higher frequencies of the TPH1 C allele than healthy controls (p = 0.02) but the difference was not significant after Bonferroni correction. The frequency of TPH1 genotype also did not differ significantly between the patients and the healthy controls, nor did TPH2 rs1386494, 5-HTR 2A-T102C, 5-HTR 2A-G1438A or 5HTTLPR allele and genotype frequencies differ significantly between the two groups. These findings suggest that a variety of serotonin-related gene pathways are unlikely to be definite genetic risk factors for undifferentiated somatoform disorder. Therefore, the pathogenesis of the disorder may be related to epigenetic factors, including psychosocial and cultural factors. Nonetheless, future studies need to include a larger sample of subjects and polymorphisms of more serotonin-related gene variants.     

Lifetime diagnoses in patients with somatoform disorders: Which came first?

Thirty inpatients with somatoform disorders were examined with the structured clinical interview SCID for psychiatric lifetime diagnosis. In the present diagnoses, we found a concordance of 63% for somatoform and affective disorders and the lifetime comorbidity of both disorders was 87%. Additionally, patients with somatoform disorders frequently had a history of other psychiatric disorders (for example, anxiety disorders, 40%). For 73% of patients with somatoform disorders and a history of affective disorders, the onset of the somatoform disorder was prior to the onset of another psychiatric disorder. The time interval between the onsets of somatoform disorders and affective disorders was greater than 1 year for most patients; for 46% of the patients with a history of both disorders, the time interval between the two disorders was more than 5 years. The course of illness for somatoform and affective disorders was quite different; while affective disorders tended to episodic periods with interim remissions, the somatoform disorders usually showed long, chronic courses (mean duration of the current somatoform disorder was 11.9 years). Finally, the Symptom Check List SCL-90R demonstrated good discrimination between patients with affective and anxiety disorders. However, the SCL-90R failed to discriminate patients with somatoform disorders from affective- and anxiety-disordered subjects. Therefore, the development of other psychometric scales is necessary for the evaluation of patients with somatoform disorders.     

Symptoms and personality traits of East and West German psychotherapy patients with anxiety and depressive disorders

The aim of this study is to explore symptoms and personality traits of patients from two Psychosomatic University Departments, one in Düsseldorf (West Germany) and the other in Magdeburg (East Germany), suffering from anxiety disorders and depression. 560 unselected outpatients with anxiety disorders and depression were examined with the Symptom-Checklist (SCL-90-R) and the Inventory of Interpersonal Problems (IIP-D). The ratio of these two diagnostic groups in relation to the total number of outpatients in both clinics was analysed. The results show a higher rate of Anxiety disorders in the East German group and a higher rate of depressed patients in the West German group. Both diagnostic groups differ in certain scales of SCL-90-R and IIP-D. These profiles are mainly stable against cultural (East-West) influences. The SCL-90-R and IIP-D should be used to develop diagnostic profiles of the discussed syndromes. Social and cultural influences of patients' self ratings should be taken into account.     

躯体形式障碍患者生活质量调查

目的:调查躯体形式障碍患者的生活质量,分析影响生活质量的有关因素.方法:用生活质量综合评定问卷(CQOLI-74)、90项症状清单(SCL-90)对61例躯体形式障碍患者和64名正常者进行自评.结果:患者组GQOLI-74评分普遍显著较低;SCL-90评分普遍显著较高.影响生活质量的因素包括:年龄,性别,文化,职业,SCL-90的抑郁因子及躯体化因子.影响社会功能的因子还包括人际关系及精神病性因子.结论:躯体形式障碍患者的心理健康状态及生活质量明显低于正常人,改善抑郁状态和躯体化症状能提高躯体形式障碍患者的生活质量.     

Conversion and somatization disorders; dissociative symptoms and other characteristics

OBJECTIVE: There is a difference in classification of conversion disorder in ICD-10 and DSM-IV. Conversion disorder is included in dissociative disorders in ICD-10. In view of this, we aimed to clarify this discrepancy in the classification of this diagnosis. METHODS: We assessed 87 patients with conversion disorder and 71 patients with somatization disorder for sociodemographic characteristics, suicide ideation, psychiatric symptoms and dissociative symptoms using the Patient Information Form, the Dissociative Experience Scale (DES), the Symptom Check List (SCL-90-R) and the Suicide Ideation Scale. RESULTS: The number of the high school graduates, singles and students with conversion disorders was higher than the number of patients with the same characteristics who have somatization disorder. In conversion disorder, the SCL-90-R total score and the score in paranoid ideation, psychoticism subgroups were higher than the scores in somatization disorders. There were no statistical differences in suicide ideation and the total score of dissociative symptoms between the two disorders. The number of patients whose total DES score of 30 and above was higher in conversion disorders. DISCUSSION: As a result of this present study, we concluded that to enlighten the concepts of conversion, further somatization and dissociation studies are necessary.     

The zurich study

Summary A representative sample of 456 persons from the normal population aged 22 and 23 years was used to study the overlap of depression with anxiety disorders. The 1-year prevalence rate for major depression (DSM-III), minor depression, and anxiety disorder together was 16.4%. The observed cases of major depression cooccurred in 36% with anxiety disorder, the cases with minor depression in 60%. On the level of symptoms assessed by a semistructured clinical interview and on the level of self-assessed items of the symptom check list SCL-90, the overlap was even greater. The main finding was that subjects with both diagnoses, depression and anxiety disorder, were more severely affected in general. Discriminant analyses of the SCL-90 scales together with the qualitative distribution of SCL items characterizing depression, anxiety, or phobia, did not disprove the hypothesis of a continuum.Project supported by grants 3.804.76 and 3.956.80 from the Swiss National Science Foundation     

老年脑梗死患者恢复期情绪障碍的临床研究

目的 探讨老年脑梗死患者恢复期情绪障碍的特点。方法 对87例老年脑梗死患者(病例组)和68例健康老年人(对照组)行症状自评量表(SCL-90)和改良爱丁堡一斯堪的那维亚量表(SSS)评定。结果 病例组SCL-90总分、阳性项目、阳性总分和阳性均分均高于对照组。病例组SCL-90躯体化、强迫、人际关系、抑郁、焦虑、恐怖和精神病性因子均高于对照组。病例组SCL-90总分及因子分与神经功能缺损总分呈正相关。结论 老年脑梗死患者恢复期常见抑郁、焦虑和恐怖等情绪障碍。其情绪障碍与神经功能缺损的严重程度有关。     

Catastrophizing misinterpretations predict somatoform-related symptoms and new onsets of somatoform disorders

BackgroundSomatoform disorders are characterized by multiple recurring symptoms that resemble physical illnesses but defy medical explanation. Psychological models suggest that catastrophizing misinterpretations of harmless physical symptoms play a key role. However, the question of whether such biases predict somatoform-related symptoms and the onset of somatoform disorders has not been adressed. Hence, the aim of the present study was to further advance our understanding of the role of catastrophizing misinterpretations in somatoform disorders.MethodsIn the present study, we used data from the Dresden Predictor Study (N = 1538), in which an epidemiologic sample of young German women was tested at two time points approximately 17 months apart. Each participant completed a diagnostic interview, an interpretation questionnaire for somatoform and hypochondriacal symptoms, and three measures of such symptomatology: somatization subscale of the Symptom Checklist-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), Whiteley Index (WI), Body Sensations Questionnaire (BSQ).ResultsAt follow-up, 33 women were diagnosed with new onsets of lifetime somatoform disorder. Results showed that catastrophizing misinterpretations assessed at baseline were predictive of somatoform-related symptoms at follow-up, i.e., symptoms assessed with the WI and BSQ. Moreover, catastrophizing misinterpretations were predictive of new onsets of somatoform disorders, even after controlling for general threat-related misinterpretations and indices of somatoform symptoms (i.e., SCL-90-R and BSQ).ConclusionsThis is the first prospective, longitudinal study to demonstrate that catastrophizing misinterpretations have incremental validity as predictors of future somatoform-related symptomatology and somatoform disorders.     

抑郁症与焦虑障碍共病临床特征研究

目的 调查抑郁症和焦虑症障碍的共病率,以及对临床严重程度的影响.方法 采用前瞻性、多中心、队列研究.入组对象符合美国精神障碍诊断与统计手册(第4版)抑郁症的诊断标准, 采用17项汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)和焦虑量表(HAMA),社会功能缺陷筛选量表(SSDS)和临床大体量表(CGI)评估.观察流行病学资料,焦虑和抑郁症状群、自杀状况.用情感性障碍和精神分裂症检查提纲中有关焦虑障碍的诊断清单评定患者合并的焦虑障碍.结果 共入组508例患者,首次抑郁发作为269例(53.0%),294例(57.9%)有过自杀观念,55例(10.8%)曾有自杀行为.45例(8.9%)伴精神病性症状.HAMD量表总分平均为(32.6±7.7)分;HAMA量表平均为(21.0±7.3)分,其中78.5%患者大于14分.抑郁症患者焦虑障碍的共病发生率为68.9%(350例),16.7%共病多种焦虑障碍.焦虑障碍种类分布以广泛性焦虑障碍为主,为56.1%.焦虑对抑郁症的临床严重程度有显著统计学意义,但自杀观念和自杀行为在共病与非共病之间未见统计学意义.36.0%患者同时伴有躯体疾病.结论 抑郁症与焦虑共病在临床上是常见的现象,合并的焦虑障碍以广泛性焦虑障碍为主,1/3的患者合并躯体疾病,应引起临床医生重视.     

Association between tinnitus and somatoform disorders

Pathophysiological mechanisms are often unknown in patients suffering from “idiopathic” tinnitus, and the presence of other unexplained physical symptoms such as those seen in somatoform disorders can be assumed. This study investigates how often tinnitus exists in general medical out-patients with and without somatoform disorders. In an international study initiated by the World Health Organization (WHO), 1275 patients from 12 participating centers located in 11 different countries were examined by means of the WHO Somatoform Disorders Schedule. The overall prevalence of unexplained tinnitus was 11%; however, tinnitus was clearly more frequent among patients with somatization disorder (42%) or hypochondriacal disorder (27%). It was also more frequent than a great number of other symptoms considered to be typical of somatoform disorders. Tinnitus was also related to depression, anxiety, and to symptoms indicating autonomic arousal. Three possible conclusions are discussed: (i) tinnitus may be a somatoform symptom; (ii) the findings may indicate a substantial comorbidity of two different conditions; (iii) tinnitus and somatization may be linked through common mechanisms of arousal and somatic anxiety.     

Psychopathological constellation in patients with PNES: A new hypothesis

Depression symptoms have often reported in patients with psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES), although the underlying psychopathological symptomatology has been poorly understood. Our aim was to compare constellations of psychological and behavioral disturbance in PNES with respect to patients with mild-major depressive disorder (MDD), hypothesizing that the construct of depression might be different in the two groups.Ten patients with PNES and ten sex-/age-matched patients with mild-MDD newly-diagnosed, were enrolled in this study. A wide neuropsychiatric battery was employed including the following: symptoms checklist 90-R (SCL-90-R), Toronto alexithymia scale (TAS-20), Hamilton anxiety rating scale (HAMA), Beck depression inventory (BDI II), dissociative experiences scale (DES), traumatic experience checklist (TEC), somatoform dissociation questionnaire (SDQ-20), and temperament and character inventory-revised (TCI-R).No significant difference was detected in the large part of psychopathological examination including personality profile between the two groups. However, PNES showed high scores in alexithymia (p = 0.02); anxiety (p = 0.03), and somatoform symptomatology (p's < 0.03) with respect to patients with mild-MDD. Moreover, somatoform symptoms strongly correlated with depression scores in both groups, whereas alexithymia was influenced by high anxiety level only in the group with PNES. No significant relationship was found between traumatic experience (as measured by TEC) and construct of depression.Our proof-of-concept study suggests that patients with PNES are characterized by their inability to verbalize emotions when dealing with anxiety symptoms, therefore expressing them in a somatic dimension. Further researches, including the investigation of the relationship between anxiety status and emotional expression, are warranted to better understand the pathogenesis of PNES.     

The Ability of the Symptom Checklist SCL-90 to Differentiate Various Anxiety and Depressive Disorders

We studied the use of the Symptom Checklist-90 (SCL-90) to differentiate between specific anxiety and depressive disorders and/or their symptoms in 280 patients with 6 DSM-III-R diagnoses: major depression (MD), panic disorder (PD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social phobia (SP), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and mixed anxiety and depression (MAD). Using a comparison group, we found specific patterns for some of the diagnostic categories. Both the MD and MAD subjects had significantly high paranoid ideation, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, and psychoticism, as well as high depression subscale scores; those with PD and GAD has the highest anxiety and somatization scores; and those with SP or OCD had a mixed pattern. When ranking the severity of psychopathology, the disorders ordered from most to least were MAD, MD, PD, GAD, SP, and OCD. Subsyndromal levels of symptoms frequently were associated with the various conditions. Use of the SCL-90 subscale helps to enlarge our understanding of the various anxiety and depressive disorders.     

慢性乙肝、乙肝后肝硬化患者及正常对照组随访8周的抑郁和焦虑症状

背景慢性乙肝（ChronicHepatitisB,CHB）和乙肝后肝硬化（HepatitisBCirrhosis,HBC）患者经常伴发抑郁、焦虑症状,但病程进展中的心理状况和CHB、HBC患者的病情之间的关系尚不清楚。目的对住院治疗的CHB和HBC急性发作患者的抑郁和焦虑症状的变化进行评估。方法对71例CHB和75例HBC患者在入院治疗时进行测评,其后治疗期间随访8周。同时,以健康志愿者65人作对照组。分别对3组对象在入院时和随访第8周时进行90项症状自评量表（SymptomCheckList-90,SCL-90）测评。采用汉密尔顿焦虑量表（HamiltonAnxietyScale,HAMA）、汉密尔顿抑郁量表（HamiltonDepressionScale,HAMD）、焦虑自评量表（Self—RatingAnxietyScale,SAS）及抑郁自评量表（Self—RmingDepressionScale,SDS）分别对3组研究对象每隔2周,即人院时、随访第2周、第4周、第6周、第8周时进行评定。结果每组均有60例对象完成测评。CHB组和HBC组的基线SCL-90总均分、大部分SCL-90因子分、HAMA、HAMD、SAS及SDS评分的均分均高于健康对照组。HAMA、HAMD评定显示,在入院时40％的CHB和80％的HBC患者有明显焦虑症状,78％的CHB和87％的HBC患者有明显的抑郁。治疗8周后,两组患者的SCL-90总均分、大部分SCL-90因子分均显著下降。治疗6周后,两组患者的HAMA、HAMD、SAS及SDS评分的均分也显著下降。治疗8周后,5％的CHB和28％的HBC患者仍有明显焦虑,7％的CHB和36％的HBC患者有明显抑郁。基线和4次测评分均提示,HBC组比CHB组患者的心理症状严重。结论在CHB、HBC患者急性发作入院时和经临床治疗急性症状缓解后,两组患者自评、他评的心理症状均比健康对照组严重。HBC组比CHB组患者的心理症状更严重。对急性发作的CHB、HBC患者的躯体症状治疗8周后,其。心理症状也可改善,但并不能完全消除。     

Anxiety and caffeine consumption in people with anxiety disorders

Forty-three anxiety disorder patients (DSM-III) who completed the Hopkins Symptom Checklist (SCL-90-R) and a caffeine questionnaire were compared to 124 medical inpatients. Eighty-four percent of the anxious patients were low caffeine consumers (0-249 mg/day) compared to 41% of medical inpatients; 65% of anxiety patients consumed less than 100 mg/day. In anxiety patients, there were no significant correlations between subscale scores of the SCL-90-R and amount of caffeine consumption. Patients who consumed less than 100 mg/day did not differ on anxiety subscale scores of the SCL-90-R from those who consumed more. However, patients who reported becoming anxious in response to drinking coffee had higher SCL-90-R anxiety subscale scores than patients who did not, even though their daily consumption was not different. It appears that anxiety disorder patients have increased caffeine sensitivity which leads to decreased consumption.