A cluster analysis of early onset in common anxiety disorders.
Early onset is regarded as an important characteristic of anxiety disorders, associated with higher severity. However, previous findings diverge, as definitions of early onset vary and are often unsubstantiated. We objectively defined early onset in social phobia, panic disorder, agoraphobia, and generalised anxiety disorder, using cluster analysis with data gathered in the general population. Resulting cut-off ages for early onset were ≤22 (social phobia), ≤31 (panic disorder), ≤21 (agoraphobia), and ≤27 (generalised anxiety disorder). Comparison of psychiatric comorbidity and general wellbeing between subjects with early and late onset in the general population and an outpatient cohort, demonstrated that among outpatients anxiety comorbidity was more common in early onset agoraphobia, but also that anxiety- as well as mood comorbidity were more common in late onset social phobia. A major limitation was the retrospective assessment of onset. Our results encourage future studies into correlates of early onset of psychiatric disorders.
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 7500, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands. Electronic address: a.schat@lumc.nl.
A
A
Schat
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 7500, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
M S
MS
van Noorden
Zaans Medisch Centrum, Department of Psychiatry, Kon. Julianaplein 58, 1502 DV Zaandam, The Netherlands; Mental Health Center GGZ Eindhoven, dept. of child and adolescent psychiatry, Doctor Poletlaan 40, 5626 ND Eindhoven, The Netherlands.
M J
MJ
Noom
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 7500, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
E J
EJ
Giltay
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 7500, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
N J A
NJ
van der Wee
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, P.O. Box 725, 3500 AS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
R
R
de Graaf
Netherlands Institute of Mental Health and Addiction, P.O. Box 725, 3500 AS, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
M
M
Ten Have
Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Curium-Leiden University Medical Center, Endegeesterstraatweg 27, 2342 AK Oegstgeest, The Netherlands.
R R J M M
RR
Vermeiren
Leiden University Medical Center, Department of Psychiatry, P.O. Box 7500, 2300 RC Leiden, The Netherlands.
F G
FG
Zitman
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D017668:Age of Onset; D000379:Agoraphobia / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001008:Anxiety Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016584:Panic Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis*; D010698:Phobic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
Age of onset; Anxiety disorders; Cluster analysis; General population; Naturalistic; Outpatient