Mixed anxiety-depression in a 1-year follow-up: Shift to other diagnoses or remission?

K Barkow, Reinhard Heun, HU Wittchen, TB Ustun, M Gaensicke, W Maier

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticle

    30 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    BACKGROUND: In 1992, the ICD-10 introduced the concept of mixed anxiety-depression disorder (MAD). However, a study examining the stability of this ICD-10-diagnosis is lacking. Our objective was to examine the 12 month outcome of MAD in comparison to the outcome of depression, anxiety, and comorbid depression and anxiety. METHODS: 85 MAD patients, 496 patients with major depression, 296 patients with anxiety disorders, and 306 comorbid patients were reassessed after 12 months. Rates of depression, anxiety, and MAD were compared using chi(2)-tests. RESULTS: While depressive disorders and anxiety disorders showed relatively high stability, MAD Patients had no higher rates of MAD at follow-up than patients with depression, anxiety or both. LIMITATIONS: Detailed information regarding treatment and disorders during the follow-up interval was lacking. Prevalence rates of MAD in single centres were too small for contrasting centres. CONCLUSIONS: MAD cannot be seen as a stable diagnosis: Most of MAD patients remit; many of them shift to other diagnoses than depression or anxiety. The ICD-10 criteria have to be specified more exactly.
    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)235-239
    Number of pages5
    JournalJournal of Affective Disorders
    Volume79
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2004

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Mixed anxiety-depression in a 1-year follow-up: Shift to other diagnoses or remission?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this