title: Association between anxiety but not depressive disorders and leukocyte telomere length after 2 years of follow-up in a population-based sample.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Telomere length is considered an emerging marker of biological aging. Depression and anxiety are associated with excess mortality risk but the mechanisms remain obscure. Telomere length might be involved because it is associated with psychological distress and mortality. The aim of this study was to test whether anxiety and depressive disorders predict telomere length over time in a large population-based sample. Method All analyses were performed in a longitudinal study in a general population cohort of 974 participants. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to measure the presence of anxiety and depressive disorders. Telomere length was measured using monochrome multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at approximately 2 years of follow-up. We used linear multivariable regression models to evaluate the association between anxiety and depressive disorders and telomere length, adjusting for adverse life events, lifestyle factors, educational level and antidepressant use.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of anxiety disorders predicted shorter telomeres at follow-up (β = -0.073, t = -2.302, p = 0.022). This association was similar after controlling for adverse life events, lifestyle factors, educational level and antidepressant use (β = -0.077, t = -2.144, p = 0.032). No association was found between depressive disorders and shorter telomeres at follow-up (β = 0.010, t = 0.315, p = 0.753).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study found that anxiety disorders predicted shorter telomere length at follow-up in a general population cohort. The association was not explained by adverse life events, lifestyle factors, educational level and antidepressant use. How anxiety disorders might lead to accelerated telomere shortening and whether this might be a mediator explaining the excess mortality risk associated with anxiety deserve further investigation.
authors.affiliation: Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands. p.w.hoen@umcg.nl
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Hoen
authors.forename: J G M
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Rosmalen
authors.forename: R A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Schoevers
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Huzen
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van der Harst
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: de Jonge
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D015415:Biomarkers; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008016:Life Change Events; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D013315:Stress, Psychological / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016615:Telomere / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D059506:Telomere Shortening; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents; D015415:Biomarkers