Anxiety and depression in individuals with somatic health problems. The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).
OBJECTIVE
To examine the relationship between anxiety disorders and depression and various somatic health problems in the general population.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study with survey methods and clinical examinations.


METHODS
The Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway (the HUNT study).


METHODS
60869 individuals aged 20-89 years.


METHODS
Anxiety disorder, depression and their comorbidity are categorized based on scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. All somatic health variables are self-reported, while blood pressure, height and weight are measured. Multivariate nominal logistic regression analyses are used to investigate the relationship between somatic variables and the anxiety/depression categories.


RESULTS
Most somatic health variables show a stronger association with comorbid anxiety disorder/depression than with anxiety disorder or depression alone. About one-third of individuals reporting somatic health problems also have anxiety disorder and/or depression.


CONCLUSIONS
Somatic health problems carry a high risk of both anxiety disorder and depression. Active identification and treatment of these co-occurring mental disorders are of practical importance.
Stordal
Eystein
E
Department of Psychiatry, Hospital Namsos, Namsos, Norway. eystein.stordal@hnt.no
Bjelland
Ingvar
I
Dahl
Alv A
AA
Mykletun
Arnstein
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology