Psychiatric comorbidity in primary care somatization disorder

Lifetime prevalence rates were calculated for comorbid psychiatric disorders in 119 patients who were referred from primary care physicians for unexplained somatic complaints and who met DSM III-R criteria for somatization disorder. Comparisons were made with general population norms from the ECA study. Prevalence of nine comorbid conditions was significantly higher than in the general populations. The most prevalent comorbid diagnoses were major depression (54.6%), generalized anxiety disorder (33.6%), and phobic disorders (31.1%). The least common comorbid disorders were mania (4.2%) and drug abuse (4.9%); drug abuse prevalence rates did not significantly exceed general population estimates. Risk ratios were highest for panic disorder (16.25), major depression (9.41), schizophrenia (7.77), and obsessive-compulsive disorder (7.04).     

Dose-response relationship between number of comorbid anxiety disorders in adolescent bipolar/unipolar disorders, and psychosis, suicidality, substance abuse and familiality

OBJECTIVES: To ascertain rates of panic, obsessive-compulsive (OCD) and social phobic disorders among adolescents with bipolar disorder (BP), unipolar major depressive disorder (MDD) and psychiatric comparison patients, to assess their relationships to suicidality, psychosis, comorbidity patterns and familiality. METHODS: The first author (SCD) interviewed 313 Latino adolescents using a structured interview based on the SCID. Family history was ascertained by live interview or interview by proxy. Patients were classified as BP, MDD, or non-affectively ill comparison controls (CC). Data regarding suicidality and psychosis were collected. Regression analysis was used to test associations and control for confounding effects. Positive likelihood ratios were used to measure the dose-response relationships between number of anxiety disorders and measures of severity of illness and familial loading for affective illness. RESULTS: Of the total sample, 36.7% were BP, 44.7% MDD and 18.5% CC. In BP vs. MDD the odds of panic disorder were 4.4, of OCD 5.1, and of social phobia 3.3. MDD, in turn, were more likely to have these disorders than CC. BP (but not MDD) with panic disorder and social phobia, were more likely to have suicidal ideation; among the anxiety disorders, only social phobia was associated with having greater odds of suicide attempts. Among BP and MDD, patients with all three anxiety disorders were more likely to be psychotic. Presence of any mood disorder among first-degree relatives substantially increased the odds of having panic disorder and social phobia. The presence of one comorbid anxiety disorder increased the odds of having another. Finally, there were dose-response relationships between number of anxiety disorders and measures of severity of illness and familial loading for affective illness. LIMITATIONS: Single interviewer using the SCID; cross sectional exploratory study. CONCLUSIONS: BP adolescents have a greater anxiety disorder burden than their MDD counterparts. The results are compatible with the hypothesis that heavy familial-genetic loading for affective illness in juveniles is associated with bipolarity, cumulative anxiety disorder comorbidity, suicidality and psychosis. These observations are in line with pioneering psychopathologic observation in the early 1900s by two French psychiatrists, Gilbert Ballet and Pierre Kahn, who saw common ground between what until then had been considered the distinct categories of the neuroses and cyclothymic (circular) psychoses. This perspective has much in common with current complex genetic models of anxious diatheses in bipolar disorder.     

Prevalence of HIV infection in a general psychiatric outpatient population

The prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in the general psychiatric population is unknown. The authors conducted a retrospective review of all patients evaluated through the psychiatric outpatient clinics at Duke University Medical Center from 2001 to 2004 in order to determine the prevalence of comorbid HIV infection and mental illness. HIV infection was present in 1.2% of the psychiatric outpatients, approximately four times the occurrence of HIV infection in the general adult population of the United States. The major psychiatric diagnostic categories with a high prevalence of HIV infection were substance abuse disorders (5%), personality disorders (3.1%), bipolar disorders (2.6%), and posttraumatic stress disorder (2.1%).     

Pretransplant psychiatric and medical comorbidity of alcoholic liver disease patients who received liver transplant

The authors examined the pretransplant prevalence of comorbid physical and psychological disorders in 112 alcoholic liver disease patients who received liver transplant. Fifty-six percent of the patients had comorbid hepatitis C or hepatitis B virus, 40% had used other substances in addition to alcohol, 25% met the criteria for a lifetime DSM-IV nonalcohol substance use disorder, 36% for a lifetime depressive disorder, and 12% for a lifetime anxiety disorder. The findings suggest the need for pretransplant psychiatric evaluation of alcoholic liver disease patients to identify nonalcohol substance use disorders and other psychiatric disorders that may require treatment.     

Cognitive behavior therapy for chronic insomnia occurring within the context of medical and psychiatric disorders

Insomnia is a pervasive problem for many patients suffering from medical and psychiatric conditions. Even when the comorbid disorders are successfully treated, insomnia often fails to remit. In addition to compromising quality of life, untreated insomnia may also aggravate and complicate recovery from the comorbid disease. Cognitive behavior therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) has an established efficacy for primary insomnia, but less is known about its efficacy for insomnia occurring in the context of medical and psychiatric conditions. The purpose of this article is to present a rationale for using CBT-I in medical and psychiatric disorders, review the extant outcome literature, highlight considerations for adapting CBT-I procedures in specific populations, and suggest directions for future research. Outcome studies were identified for CBT-I in mixed medical and psychiatric conditions, cancer, chronic pain, HIV, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder, and alcoholism. Other disorders discussed include: bipolar disorder, eating disorders, generalized anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder. The available data demonstrate moderate to large treatment effects (Cohen's d, range=0.35-2.2) and indicate that CBT-I is a promising treatment for individuals with medical and psychiatric comorbidity. Although the literature reviewed here is limited by a paucity of randomized, controlled studies, the available data suggest that by improving sleep, CBT-I might also indirectly improve medical and psychological endpoints. This review underscores the need for future research to test the efficacy of adaptations of CBT-I to disease specific conditions and symptoms.     

Magnitude of placebo response and drug-placebo differences across psychiatric disorders

BACKGROUND: Placebo response, drug response, and drug-placebo differences appear to vary among psychiatric conditions. METHOD: We evaluated the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Summary Basis of Approval (SBA) reports to compare the magnitude of placebo response, magnitude of psychotopic drug response, and drug placebo differences among various diagnostic groups such as depression, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. RESULTS: Six diagnostic groups (psychosis, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, panic) varied in response to both placebo and active drug treatments. Response to placebo was high among patients participating in GAD, depression, and panic disorder clinical trials. Conversely, patients participating in psychotic disorder and OCD trials experienced low response to placebo. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that the magnitude of placebo response and drug response were heterogeneous and were statistically significantly different among various psychiatric disorders. Although a noticeable degree of heterogeneity was detected in the drug-placebo ratio among various disorders, the differences did not reach statistical significance. This finding suggests that placebo use should be continued for newer agents being tested for all of the psychiatric disorders. These findings may help in the development of psychopharmacology trial designs and in the deliberations of ethics committees.     

Cardiovascular disease and metabolic risk factors in male patients with schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder

The authors determined whether diagnoses of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and CVD-related conditions differed by psychiatric diagnosis among male Veterans Administration patients from the mid-Atlantic region. Among 7,529 patients (mean age: 54.5 years), the prevalence of diagnoses ranged from 3.6% (stroke) to 35.4% (hypertension). Compared with schizophrenia patients, those with bipolar disorder were 19% more likely to have diabetes, 44% more likely to have coronary artery disease, and 18% more likely to have dyslipidemia, after adjustment. Clinical suspicion for CVD-related conditions, as well as risk-modification strategies, in patients with serious mental illness should incorporate differences in prevalence across specific psychiatric diagnoses.     

Psychiatric and psychosocial outcome of orthotopic liver transplantation

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to explore the prevalence of psychiatric disorders among orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) recipients, and to investigate how psychiatric morbidity was linked to health-related quality of life (HRQOL). METHODS: We recruited 75 patients who had undergone OLT a median of 3.8 years previously (range = 5-129 months). Psychiatric morbidity was assessed using the Structural Clinical Interview for the DSM-III-R. Psychometric observer-rating and self-rating scales were administered to evaluate cognitive functioning (SKT), depressive symptomatology (HAMD(17)), posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS-10), social support (SSS), and HRQOL (SF-36 Health Status Questionnaire). Treatment characteristics were obtained from medical records. RESULTS: 22.7% (n = 17) of our sample had a current or probable psychiatric diagnosis according to DSM-III-R: 2.7% full posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (n = 2), 2.7% major depressive disorder (MDD) comorbid to full PTSD (n = 2), 1.3% MDD comorbid to partial PTSD (n = 1), and 16% partial PTSD (n = 12). Patients with PTSD symptoms demonstrated lower cognitive performance, higher severity of depressive symptoms and more unfavorable perception of social support. OLT-related PTSD symptomatology was associated with maximal decrements in HRQOL. The duration of intensive care treatment, the number of medical complications, and the occurrence of acute rejection were positively correlated with the risk of PTSD symptoms subsequent to OLT. CONCLUSION: OLT-related PTSD symptomatology impairing HRQOL is a complication for a subgroup of OLT recipients. Health-care providers should be aware of the possible presence of PTSD in OLT survivors.     

Tourette综合征的共病临床研究

目的：了解Tourette综合征共病的种类、发生率及相关因素。方法：以CCMD-3诊断标准为依据，分别采用耶鲁综合抽动严重程度量表(YGTSS)、Achenbach儿童行为量表(CBCL)、莱顿(Leyton)强迫量表、康纳(Conners)儿童行为问卷和家庭情况调查表，对125例Tourette综合征逐一进行评定。结果：Tourette综合征与注意缺陷多动障碍共病率为41．6％，与强迫症的共病率为25．6％，与焦虑障碍的共病率为8．0％，与抑郁障碍的共病率为4．8％，与品行障碍的共病率为8．0％，与自伤的共病率为3．2％，与睡眠障碍的共病率为2．4％。结论：Tourette综合征的共病种类多，患病率高，影响TS的治疗及预后。共病通常是TS儿童功能损害的来源，并增加疾病的复杂性和严重性，应该引起高度重视。     

综合医院就诊者中焦虑障碍的检出率

目的:了解综合性医疗机构中门诊就诊者焦虑障碍的检出率及其分布特点,为提高临床诊疗中以人为整体的诊治理念,强化非精神专科诊疗中对焦虑障碍的识别和治疗提供依据。方法:多中心横断面设计,以分别代表中国北部、东部、南部、西部和中部的5个城市(北京、上海、广州、成都和长沙),每个城市各3家,共15家三级甲等综合医院的心血管科、消化科、神经科和妇科的门诊为研究点。有8487例综合医院门诊就诊者完成调查。采用医院焦虑抑郁量表(HADS)筛查,同时完成Sheehan失能量表(SDS),记录主诉和就诊医生的诊疗意见。筛查≥8分的阳性者用简明国际神经精神访谈(MINI)作诊断评估,按DSM-IV标准做出各种焦虑障碍的诊断。诊断阳性者做抑郁自评量表(QIDS-SR16)和焦虑自评量表(SAS)评估症状严重程度。结果:经失访校正后,MINI诊断的焦虑障碍的检出率8.6%,抑郁和焦虑共病的检出率4.1%;亚型中以广泛性焦虑障碍检出率最高(4.2%)。焦虑障碍和抑郁障碍之间的共病比例(49.4%)以及焦虑障碍亚型间共病比例(56.0%)较高。有共病者的SAS和QIDS-SR16评分均高于单一焦虑诊断者(P0.001),且SDS的3个条目分均高于单一焦虑诊断者(均P0.05)。神经内科的焦虑障碍检出率最高(11.7%),其次是消化内科(9.4%)和心血管内科(7.8%),妇科最低(5.4%)。女性焦虑障碍的现患和终身检出率均高于男性。结论:焦虑障碍是综合医院就诊者中的常见问题,各种焦虑障碍亚型之间,以及焦虑与抑郁障碍的共病非常普遍且共病者病情更重。     

Psychopathology following trauma: the role of subjective experience

BACKGROUND: The DSM-IV definition of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) widened the stressor criterion to include objective (A1) and subjective (A2) components. The prevalence of Criterion A2, and its association with traumatic memory and psychopathology, was examined in a large community sample. METHOD: The presence of Criterion A2 and traumatic memories, as well as DSM-IV anxiety, affective and substance use disorders, were examined in a community sample of 6104 adults with a history of traumatic exposure. RESULTS: Most individuals met Criterion A2 (76%), with higher prevalence in females (81%) than males (69%). A2 was more common following certain traumas (such as assaultive violence). Excluding those people with PTSD, prevalence of most psychiatric disorders was higher in those who met Criterion A2 than in those who only met Criterion A1. Only 3% of those who did not meet A2 went on to suffer persistent traumatic memories. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was higher in those with A2 and traumatic memories than in those with A2 and no traumatic memories. LIMITATIONS: The retrospective nature of the data raises the potential for reporting biases. The data set allowed only one of several possible predictors of posttraumatic adjustment to be examined and only 12-month, and not lifetime, prevalence of psychiatric conditions was available. CONCLUSIONS: The experience of powerful emotions at the time of traumatic exposure is common and is associated with increased prevalence not only of PTSD, but also of a range of other psychiatric conditions. Traumatic memories may mediate this association.     

Low plasma levels of l-arginine,impaired intraplatelet nitric oxide and platelet hyperaggregability: Implications for cardiovascular disease in depressive patients

BackgroundObsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) is a chronic condition that normally presents high rates of psychiatric comorbidity. Depression, tic disorders and other anxiety disorders are among the most common comorbidities in OCD adult patients. There is evidence that the higher the number of psychiatric comorbidities, the worse the OCD treatment response. However, little is known about the impact of OCD treatment on the outcome of the psychiatric comorbidities usually present in OCD patients. The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of exclusive, conventional treatments for OCD on the outcome of additional psychiatric disorders of OCD patients, detected at baseline.MethodsSeventy-six patients with primary OCD admitted to the treatment protocols of the Obsessive–Compulsive Spectrum Disorders Program between July 2007 and December 2009 were evaluated at pre-treatment and after 12 months. Data were analyzed to verify possible associations between OCD treatment response and the outcome of psychiatric comorbidities.ResultsResults showed a significant association between OCD treatment response and improvement of major depression and dysthymia (p-value = 0.002), other anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, specific phobia, posttraumatic stress disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia and anxiety disorder not otherwise specified) (p-value = 0.054) and tic disorders (p-value = 0.043).LimitationsThis is an open, non-blinded study, without rating scales for comorbid conditions. Further research is necessary focusing on the possible mechanisms by which OCD treatment could improve these specific disorders.ConclusionsOur results suggest that certain comorbid disorders may benefit from OCD-targeted treatment.     

焦虑障碍与人格障碍的共病

目的:探讨焦虑障碍患者共病人格障碍的情况。方法:对127例符合DSM-IV轴I焦虑障碍的患者进行了DSM-IV轴II人格障碍的诊断评估,并进行汉密尔顿焦虑量表(HAMA)、汉密尔顿抑郁量表(HAMD)、疾病严重程度(CGI-SI)、社会功能缺陷(SDSS)等评定。结果:①焦虑障碍与人格障碍的共病率为73.2%;②共病者焦虑障碍的发病年龄更早(P<0.01),焦虑障碍病程更长(P<0.05),疾病更加严重(P<0.01),其焦虑、抑郁水平更高(P<0.05;P<0.05),社会功能更差(P<0.01)。结论:焦虑障碍与人格障碍有较高的共病率,焦虑障碍与人格障碍共病患者的临床特征更加复杂。     

Comorbid psychiatric disorders in depressed outpatients: demographic and clinical features

BACKGROUND: This study evaluated the clinical and sociodemographic features associated with various degrees of concurrent comorbidity in adult outpatients with nonpsychotic major depressive disorder (MDD). METHODS: Outpatients enrolled in the STAR*D trial completed the Psychiatric Diagnostic Screening Questionnaire (PDSQ). An a priori 90% specificity threshold was set for PDSQ responses to ascertain the presence of 11 different concurrent DSM-IV Axis I disorders. RESULTS: Of 1376 outpatients, 38.2% had no concurrent comorbidities, while 25.6% suffered one, 16.1% suffered two, and 20.2% suffered three or more comorbid conditions. Altogether, 29.3% met threshold for social anxiety disorder, 20.8% for generalized anxiety disorder, 18.8% for posttraumatic stress disorder, 12.4% for bulimia, 11.9% for alcohol abuse/dependence, 13.4% for obsessive-compulsive disorder, 11.1% for panic disorder, 9.4% for agoraphobia, 7.3% for drug abuse/dependence, 3.7% for hypochondriasis, and 2.2% for somatoform disorder. Those with more concurrent Axis I conditions had earlier ages at first onset of MDD, longer histories of MDD, greater depressive symptom severity, more general medical comorbidity (even though they were younger than those with fewer comorbid conditions), poorer physical and mental function, health perceptions, and life satisfaction; and were more likely to be seen in primary care settings. LIMITATIONS: Participants had to meet entry criteria for STAR*D. Ascertainment of comorbid conditions was not based on a structured interview. CONCLUSIONS: Concurrent Axis I conditions (most often anxiety disorders) are very common with MDD. Greater numbers of concurrent comorbid conditions were associated with increased severity, morbidity, and chronicity of their MDD.     

Axis I and II comorbidity in a large sample of patients with obsessive-compulsive disorder

Background: No study has reported yet on the prevalence of both comorbid DSM-IV axis I and personality disorders in a large cohort of OCD patients, and little is known about differences in clinical characteristics between OCD patients with and without comorbid symptoms. Objective: To examine the cross-sectional prevalence of comorbid DSM-IV axis I, and personality disorders in a population of patients with primary obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). Method: 420 outpatients with OCD were evaluated for comorbid pathology, demographic, and clinical characteristics. Results: Forty-six percent of the patients were diagnosed with a comorbid disorder. Twenty-seven percent met the criteria for at least one comorbid axis I disorder, 15.6 percent for a comorbid personality disorder, and 20.4 percent for both a comorbid axis I disorder and a personality disorder. Limitations: A limitation of the current study is that the sample was drawn from a psychiatric department specialised in anxiety disorders, which might have underestimated the rate of comorbid diagnoses. Conclusion: Comorbid diagnoses occur less frequently than would be expected on the basis of comparable comorbidity studies in OCD. Associated axis I comorbidity did not affect clinical severity of OCD, but was related to higher levels of depression and anxiety, whereas axis II comorbidity impaired to a higher extent the overall functioning.     

Movement during sleep: associations with posttraumatic stress disorder,nightmares, and comorbid panic disorder

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To corroborate findings from the National Comorbidy study with objective sleep data. DESIGN: Retrospective data review. SETTING: Sleep Laboratory, National Center for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder PARTICIPANTS: Male Vietnam combat veteran. INTERVENTIONS: N/A. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: We reanalyzed laboratory sleep data obtained from subjects undergoing inpatient treatment for posttraumatic stress disorder. Comorbid panic disorder was not associated with a significant worsening of objective sleep in this sample. Posttraumatic stress disorder, comorbid panic disorder, and trauma-related nightmare complaint were all associated with significant and systematic reductions of sleep movement time. Analyses of potential "rescoring" artifacts provided further support for this effect. CONCLUSIONS: A curvilinear function may describe the relationship between anxiety symptom severity and sleep-movement time in both posttraumatic stress disorder and panic disorder. Evidence for movement suppression in association with pathologic levels of human anxiety is consistent with the suppression of movement ("freezing") exhibited by animals under conditions of perceived threat.     

The impact of comorbid anxiety disorders on the course of dysthymic disorder: a 5-year prospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: Few studies have examined the impact of comorbid anxiety disorder on the course of dysthymic disorder despite the high rate of comorbidity between these disorders. This research prospectively examines the naturalistic course of dysthymic disorder in patients with and without a comorbid anxiety disorder over a 5-year period. METHODS: Thirty-two comorbid patients and 54 non-comorbid patients with dysthymic disorder were assessed at three different time points (baseline, 30 months, and 60 months). Follow-up assessments included the Longitudinal Interval Follow-Up Evaluation and Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD). RESULTS: The rate of recovery from dysthymic disorder was significantly lower in patients with (31.3%) than without (61.1%) comorbid anxiety disorders and, at all three time points, patients with comorbid anxiety had significantly higher HRSD scores. The estimated recovery rate from anxiety disorders was 53.8%. Only five of the comorbid patients recovered from both dysthymic disorder and all anxiety disorders during follow-up. Including new onsets, 72.1% of patients experienced an episode of an anxiety disorder during the 5 years. LIMITATIONS: There was no pure anxiety disorder group and patients were asked to report on relatively lengthy follow-up intervals. CONCLUSIONS: While the course of dysthymic disorder is debilitating, these results suggest that the prognosis for patients with a comorbid anxiety disorder is even poorer.     

Pathways to comorbidity: the transition of pure mood, anxiety and substance use disorders into comorbid conditions in a longitudinal population-based study

BACKGROUND: To describe transitions to comorbidity within a 3-year period in three cohorts of subjects with at baseline a 12-month pure mood, anxiety or substance use disorder but no lifetime history of any other disorder category. To assess the role of personal and social vulnerability factors, life events, clinical factors and functional disability in the pathway to comorbidity. METHODS: Data were derived from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study (NEMESIS), a prospective epidemiologic study of a representative sample of 7076 adults aged 18-65, interviewed in three waves (baseline, 1 and 3 years after baseline) with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. RESULTS: 15.2% of 99 pure mood, 10.5% of 220 anxiety and 6.8% of 192 substance use disorder cases became comorbid. Comorbid transition from pure mood disorder was multivariately associated with higher age, external mastery and severity of the disorder. Comorbidity developing from pure anxiety disorder was associated with past and recent stressful life circumstances (childhood trauma, negative life events) and physical functional disability. Predictors of comorbid transition from pure substance use disorder were personal and social vulnerability variables only (high neuroticism, low social support). LIMITATIONS: Although NEMESIS was performed among a substantial number of cases, the number of cases with a pure disorder at baseline subsequently developing comorbidity was low. This limited analysing determinants of different comorbid conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Risk factors for comorbid transitions vary depending on whether subjects have a primary mood, anxiety or substance use disorder. Interventions aimed at primary prevention of comorbidity to reduce psychiatric burden in populations with a history of pure disorders are indicated in response to clearly identified risk factors.     

Trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder in psychosis: findings from a first-admission cohort

This study examined the lifetime prevalence of trauma exposure and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and their demographic, diagnostic, and trauma-related correlates in a clinical cohort of 426 patients with a first psychiatric admission for psychosis. The prevalence of trauma exposure was 68.5%. Female gender and substance abuse were risk factors for trauma exposure. The prevalence of PTSD was 14.3% in the full sample and 26.5% in those with trauma exposure. PTSD was less prevalent in patients with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia and was twice as common in women. Other significant risk factors were younger age and trauma exposure that was repeated and ongoing or that involved childhood victimization. The findings highlight the importance of systematically ascertaining trauma histories in patients with psychotic disorders.