TY - JOUR
T1 - Differential associations of specific depressive and anxiety disorders with somatic symptoms
AU - Bekhuis, Ella
AU - Boschloo, Lynn
AU - Rosmalen, Judith G M
AU - Schoevers, Robert A
PY - 2015/2
Y1 - 2015/2
N2 - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that depressive and anxiety disorders are strongly related to somatic symptoms, but much is unclear about the specificity of this association. This study examines the associations of specific depressive and anxiety disorders with somatic symptoms, and whether these associations are independent of comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders.METHODS: Cross-sectional data were derived from The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). A total of 2008 persons (mean age: 41.6years, 64.9% women) were included, consisting of 1367 patients with a past-month DSM-diagnosis (established with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview [CIDI]) of depressive disorder (major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder) and/or anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia), and 641 controls. Somatic symptoms were assessed with the somatization scale of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ), and included cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and general symptoms. Analyses were adjusted for covariates such as chronic somatic diseases, sociodemographics, and lifestyle factors.RESULTS: All clusters of somatic symptoms were more prevalent in patients with depressive and/or anxiety disorders than in controls (all p<.001). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that all types of depressive and anxiety disorders were independently related to somatic symptoms, except for dysthymic disorder. Major depressive disorder showed the strongest associations. Associations remained similar after adjustment for covariates.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that depressive and anxiety disorders show strong and partly differential associations with somatic symptoms. Future research should investigate whether an adequate consideration and treatment of somatic symptoms in depressed and/or anxious patients improve treatment outcomes.
AB - OBJECTIVE: Previous studies have shown that depressive and anxiety disorders are strongly related to somatic symptoms, but much is unclear about the specificity of this association. This study examines the associations of specific depressive and anxiety disorders with somatic symptoms, and whether these associations are independent of comorbid depressive and anxiety disorders.METHODS: Cross-sectional data were derived from The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety (NESDA). A total of 2008 persons (mean age: 41.6years, 64.9% women) were included, consisting of 1367 patients with a past-month DSM-diagnosis (established with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview [CIDI]) of depressive disorder (major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder) and/or anxiety disorder (generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia), and 641 controls. Somatic symptoms were assessed with the somatization scale of the Four-Dimensional Symptom Questionnaire (4DSQ), and included cardiopulmonary, musculoskeletal, gastrointestinal, and general symptoms. Analyses were adjusted for covariates such as chronic somatic diseases, sociodemographics, and lifestyle factors.RESULTS: All clusters of somatic symptoms were more prevalent in patients with depressive and/or anxiety disorders than in controls (all p<.001). Multivariable logistic regression analyses showed that all types of depressive and anxiety disorders were independently related to somatic symptoms, except for dysthymic disorder. Major depressive disorder showed the strongest associations. Associations remained similar after adjustment for covariates.CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that depressive and anxiety disorders show strong and partly differential associations with somatic symptoms. Future research should investigate whether an adequate consideration and treatment of somatic symptoms in depressed and/or anxious patients improve treatment outcomes.
KW - Anxiety disorders
KW - Comorbidity
KW - Depressive disorders
KW - Functional somatic symptoms
KW - Somatic symptoms
KW - MEDICALLY UNEXPLAINED SYMPTOMS
KW - INTERNATIONAL DIAGNOSTIC INTERVIEW
KW - PRIMARY-CARE PATIENTS
KW - FOLLOW-UP
KW - PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
KW - MENTAL-DISORDERS
KW - SOMATOFORM DISORDERS
KW - COGNITIVE THERAPY
KW - MAJOR DEPRESSION
KW - PANIC DISORDER
U2 - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2014.11.007
DO - 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2014.11.007
M3 - Article
C2 - 25524436
SN - 0022-3999
VL - 78
SP - 116
EP - 122
JO - Journal of Psychosomatic Research
JF - Journal of Psychosomatic Research
IS - 2
ER -