title: Outcomes in a referral cohort of patients with anxiety disorders.
abstract: This study describes 6- and 12-month outcomes in a referral cohort with anxiety disorders and identifies treatment and prognostic factors related to these outcomes. Patients were recruited at three general hospital clinics, two psychologist-run clinics, and one psychiatric hospital clinic. Outcomes included severity of symptoms, physical and mental health status, and subjective global change in problem severity. Of 254 patients eligible for follow-up, 165 (65.0%) completed a follow-up questionnaire. Methods of treatment included consultation with return to the primary care physician (38.2%); or continued treatment at the clinic, with medications (16.4%), psychotherapy (22.4%), or both (23.0%). Both severity of symptoms and mental health status improved but remained abnormal at follow-up. In multiple logistic regression, subjective global improvement was related to a diagnosis of panic disorder only, treatment with psychotherapy, and type of referral. Change over time in symptom severity was related to clinic type, and change over time in mental health was related to clinic type and duration of previous treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Community Studies, St. Mary's Hospital, Montreal, Canada.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McCusker
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Boulenger
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bellavance
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Boyer
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Miller
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003155:Community Mental Health Centers; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D010555:Personality Inventory; D011379:Prognosis; D011567:Psychiatric Department, Hospital; D011613:Psychotherapy; D011792:Quebec; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D014149:Tranquilizing Agents