Generalized Anxiety Disorder is Associated With Reduced Lung Function in the Vietnam Experience Study

Background: There is no clear consensus in the few studies to have explored the relationship between major mental health disorders and lung function. The present study examined the cross-sectional associations of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) with lung function in a large study of male US veterans. Methods: Participants (N = 4256) were drawn from the Vietnam Experience Study. From military files, telephone interviews, and a medical examination, anthropometric, socio-demographic, and health data were collected. One-year prevalence of GAD and MDD was determined using DSM-III criteria. Forced expiratory volume in 1 second was measured by spirometry. Results: In models that adjusted for age and height, both GAD (p <.001) and MDD (p = .004) were associated with lower forced expiratory volume in 1 second. In models additionally adjusting for weight, place of service, ethnicity, marriage, smoking, alcohol consumption, income, education, and major illness, GAD was still associated with poorer lung function (p = .01), whereas MDD was not (p = .18). Conclusions: Depression has very much been the focus of studies on mental health and physical health status. The current findings suggest that future research should perhaps pay equal attention to GAD.