title: Relationship between anxiety and medical disorders among compulsory military service candidates between the years 1998-2013.
abstract: One of the most common psychiatric diagnoses among adolescents is anxiety disorder. Many of the anxiety symptoms are expressed physiologically, and therefore can mimic other medical conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the association between anxiety disorders and other medical conditions sharing common symptoms with anxiety (MDSCSA: Irritable Bowel Syndrome, asthma, migraine and hyperhidrosis). The study was based on the national database of the candidates for military service in Israel. Data for the years 1998-2013 was retrieved to create the study dataset. The final cohort population was comprised of 1,229,461 military service candidates. Anxiety prevalence and its association with other medical conditions sharing the same symptoms was examined in the cohort. The results showed significant statistical association between anxiety and IBS, asthma, migraine and hyperhidrosis. These findings support the fact that there is a clear association between anxiety disorder and the examined medical conditions. Moreover, in the military setting, the primary care physician has an important role in giving a correct diagnosis for soldiers presenting with symptoms that can be regarded both to anxiety and to other physical illnesses.
authors: Israeli Air Force, Psychological Branch, Ramat-Gan, Israel. Electronic address: Lshelef4@gmail.com.
authors: Leah
authors: L
authors: Shelef
authors: Israeli Air Force, Psychological Branch, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors: Shron
authors: S
authors: Dotan
authors: Military Track, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem - Hadassah Medical School, Israel.
authors: Dan
authors: D
authors: Kaminsky
authors: Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors: Ron
authors: R
authors: Kedem
authors: Department of Plastic and reconstructive surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Alexander
authors: A
authors: Margulis
authors: Medical Corps, Israel Defense Forces, Ramat-Gan, Israel; Department of Plastic and reconstructive surgery, Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors: Ayal
authors: A
authors: Hassidim
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D043183:Irritable Bowel Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D000071896:Medically Unexplained Symptoms; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies
keywords: Anxiety; Asthma; Hyperhidrosis; IDF soldiers; Irritable bowel syndrome; Migraine