Common Psychiatric Disorders (common + psychiatric_disorders)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Genetics of anxiety disorders: the complex road from DSM to DNA,

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 11 2009
Jordan W. Smoller M.D. Sc.D.
Abstract Anxiety disorders are among the most common psychiatric disorders, affecting one in four individuals over a lifetime. Although our understanding of the etiology of these disorders is incomplete, familial and genetic factors are established risk factors. However, identifying the specific casual genes has been difficult. Within the past several years, advances in molecular and statistical genetic methods have made the genetic dissection of complex disorders a feasible project. Here we provide an overview of these developments, with a focus on their implications for genetic studies of anxiety disorders. Although the genetic and phenotypic complexity of the anxiety disorders present formidable challenges, advances in neuroimaging and experimental animal models of anxiety and fear offer important opportunities for discovery. Real progress in identifying the genetic basis of anxiety disorders will require integrative approaches that make use of these biologic tools as well as larger-scale genomic studies. If successful, such efforts may yield novel and more effective approaches for the prevention and treatment of these common and costly disorders. Depression and Anxiety, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Prevalence of social phobia and its comorbidity with psychiatric disorders in Iran

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 7 2006
Mohammad-Reza Mohammadi M.D.
Abstract This study explored the prevalence of social phobia (SP) in the general population of Iran, the sociodemographic characteristics of subjects with SP, and its comorbidity with the other lifetime psychiatric disorders. Our study was part of the nationwide study on the prevalence of psychiatric disorders in Iran. Overall, 25,180 Iranian subjects, age 18 years and over, from urban and rural areas of Iran were selected by a clustered random sampling method and interviewed face-to-face by 250 trained clinical psychologists using DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. Out of 12,398,235 households, 7,795 households in the form of 1,559 clusters of five households were selected. The statistical framework was based on the household lists available from the Department of Health in the provinces. The response rate was 90%. The lifetime prevalence of SP was 0.82%. The rate was 0.4% in males and 1.3% in females. The rate was higher in younger age groups and widows/widowers. It was not related to educational level and residential area. Specific phobia (66.7%), obsessive,compulsive disorder (17.4%), major depressive disorder (15%), and panic disorder (12.1%) were the most common lifetime psychiatric disorders among subjects with SP. The rate of SP in Iran is more similar to that in other Asian countries, and it is lower than that in Western countries. The rate of other psychiatric disorders among subjects with SP is more than that in the general population, and the most common psychiatric disorders were the other anxiety disorders and major depressive disorder. Depression and Anxiety 23:405,411, 2006 © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Panic disorder and suicidal ideation in primary care

DEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 1 2006
Daniel J. Pilowsky M.D., M.P.H.
Abstract The purpose of this study was to ascertain whether panic disorder (PD) and suicidal ideation are associated in an inner-city primary care clinic and whether this association remains significant after controlling for commonly co-occurring psychiatric disorders. We surveyed 2,043 patients attending a primary care clinic using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders (PRIME-MD) Patient Health Questionnaire, a screening instrument that yields provisional diagnoses of selected psychiatric disorders. We estimated the prevalence of current suicidal ideation and of common psychiatric disorders including panic disorder and major depression. A provisional diagnosis of current PD was received by 127 patients (6.2%). After adjusting for potential confounders (age, gender, major depressive disorder [MDD], generalized anxiety disorder, and substance use disorders), patients with PD were about twice as likely to present with current suicidal ideation, as compared to those without PD (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=1.84; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.06,3.18; P=.03). After adjusting for PD and the above-mentioned potential confounders, patients with MDD had a sevenfold increase in the odds of suicidal ideation, as compared to those without MDD (AOR=7.00; 95% CI: 4.42,11.08; P<.0001). Primary care patients with PD are at high risk for suicidal ideation, and patients with PD and co-occurring MDD are at especially high risk. PD patients in primary care thus should be assessed routinely for suicidal ideation and depression. Depression and Anxiety 23:11,16, 2006. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Spousal Concordance for Alcohol Dependence: Evidence for Assortative Mating or Spousal Interaction Effects?

ALCOHOLISM, Issue 5 2007
Julia D. Grant
Background: Alcohol dependence (AD) is among the most common psychiatric disorders, and impacts the health and well-being of problem drinkers, their family members, and society as a whole. Although previous research has consistently indicated that genetic factors contribute to variance in risk for AD, little attention has been paid to nonrandom mating for AD. When assortative mating occurs for a heritable trait, spouses are genetically correlated and offspring are at increased risk of receiving high-risk genes from both parents. The primary goal of the present analyses is to test hypotheses about the source(s) and magnitude of spousal associations for AD using a twin-spouse design. Methods: DSM-IV AD (without the clustering criterion) was assessed via telephone interview for 5,974 twin members of an older cohort of the Australian Twin Register (born 1902,1964) and 3,814 spouses of the twins. Quantitative genetic modeling was used to determine the extent to which variability in risk for AD was influenced by genetic factors, the extent of spousal association for AD, and whether the association was attributable to assortative mating, reciprocal spousal interaction, or both processes. Results: Genetic factors explained 49% of the variance in risk for AD. There was no evidence of gender differences in the spousal interaction effect, the degree of rater bias, or the association between the twin's report of spouse AD and the spouse's AD phenotype. Either the assortative mating parameter or the spousal interaction parameter could be removed from the model without a significant decrement in fit, but both could not be dropped simultaneously, suggesting a lack of power to differentiate between these 2 causes of spousal correlation. When both effects were included in the model, the spousal correlation was 0.29, the assortative mating coefficient was 0.45 (i.e., "like marries like"), and the reciprocal spousal interaction coefficient was ,0.10 (i.e., after controlling for assortative mating, the additional impact of spousal interactions is slightly protective). Conclusions: These analyses provide evidence of significant spousal associations for AD, with assortative mating increasing spouse similarity and spousal interaction effects decreasing it after controlling for assortative mating. Although the genetic impact is modest, assortative mating results in an increased proportion of offspring exposed to 2 alcoholic parents and the associated detrimental environmental sequelae, and increases the likelihood of offspring inheriting high-risk genes from both parents. [source]


Development of a brief screening interview for adjustment disorders and major depression in patients with cancer

CANCER, Issue 10 2003
Nobuya Akizuki M.D.
Abstract BACKGROUND Adjustment disorders and major depression are common psychiatric disorders in patients with cancer and have a serious impact on quality of life. The problem in clinical oncology settings is underrecognition of these disorders; as a result, screening is recommended to detect them. The goal of the current study was to develop a new, brief screening tool for adjustment disorders and major depression and to compare its performance with that of existing screening methods. METHODS Patients with cancer completed the newly developed One-Question Interview (a 1-item, structured interview); the Distress Thermometer (a 1-item, self-report questionnaire), which previously was developed as a brief screening tool; and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS; a 14-item, self-report questionnaire). Psychiatric diagnoses of adjustment disorders and major depression were made by psychiatrists and were based on criteria set forth by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition. RESULTS Two hundred seventy-five patients participated in the study. Scores on both the One-Question Interview and the Distress Thermometer were significantly correlated with HADS score (One-Question Interview: r = ,0.66, P < 0.01; Distress Thermometer: r = 0.71, P < 0.01). At the optimal cutoff points, the sensitivity and specificity for detection of adjustment disorders and major depression were 80% and 61%, respectively, for the One-Question Interview; 84% and 61%, respectively, for the Distress Thermometer; and 92% and 57%, respectively, for the HADS. CONCLUSIONS The results of the current study suggested that the One-Question Interview was a valid tool for use in screening patients with cancer for adjustment disorders and major depression. Its performance was inferior to that of the HADS but comparable to that of the Distress Thermometer. The One-Question Interview may be suitable for widespread use in routine screening. Cancer 2003;10:2605,13. © 2003 American Cancer Society. DOI 10.1002/cncr.11358 [source]