Screening for risk of cardiovascular disease is not associated with mental distress: the Inter99 study.
OBJECTIVE
To analyze mental distress in relation to participation in lifestyle intervention.


METHODS
In 2000-2001 a total of 1948 consecutive participants, living in the suburbs of Copenhagen, were asked to complete a short version of SCL-90-R (anxiety, depression, and somatization) before screening, immediately after screening, and one and 10 months after screening. The screening classified participants into high or low risk individuals. High risk individuals received personal lifestyle counselling and were randomized to either group-based counselling (A) or referred care (B). Multilevel regression models taking into account repeated measurements and missing data at follow-up were performed.


RESULTS
Before screening, high risk individuals had higher scores on anxiety, depression, and somatization than low risk individuals. All categories of participants decreased in scores after screening. The scores increased after 1 month, but were still significantly lower than before screening. After 10 months, low risk individuals and high risk individuals in group A still had significantly lower scores (except for depression) compared with pre-screening levels, whereas high risk individuals in group B reached the pre-screening level (except for anxiety).


CONCLUSIONS
Screening for risk of cardiovascular disease followed by health counselling does not give rise to mental distress, but has a temporary beneficial effect.
Jørgensen
Torben
T
Research Centre for Prevention and Health, Building 84/85, Glostrup University Hospital, DK-2600 Glostrup, Denmark. tojo@glo.regionh.dk
Ladelund
Steen
S
Borch-Johnsen
Knut
K
Pisinger
Charlotta
C
Schrader
Anne-Marie
AM
Thomsen
Troels
T
Glümer
Charlotte
C
Ibsen
Hans
H
Mortensen
Erik Lykke
EL
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology*; D003376:Counseling; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D012737:Sex Factors; D013001:Somatoform Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control