A study finds an association between a lower labour productivity and the painful symptoms of anxiety and depression.

-generalized anxiety is the second most common primary care mental illness

-A Spanish research indicates the frequency of painful symptoms associated with anxiety

-59% of patients with generalized anxiety referred pain. This figure rises to 78% in patients presenting with anxiety and depression

Madrid, October 2009.- the painful symptoms associated with anxiety and depression are associated with a reduction in the productivity of the patients in 3.9 days per week. In addition, only 4.6% of the patients with generalized anxiety and depression are normal functionality when there are these painful symptoms. These are the results from a Spanish study in primary care patients.

The study, the first of these features is carried out in Spain, analyzed a total of 7.152 patients who attend primary health care for any reason, of which more than 13% (981) showed generalized anxiety, which confirms this disorder as the second most common primary care mental illness. In addition, more than half of these patients (559) presented one major depressive disorder and anxiety disorder.

Also analyzed the presence of painful somatic symptoms in these cases. 59% Of patients with generalized anxiety referred pain, figure that rises to 78% when anxiety joins depression.

In this study we found that the presence of painful symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety is very common, as we know it occurs in patients with depression ”, noted Dr. Ángel Luis Montejo, University Hospital of Salamanca and one of the researchers of the study. But perhaps more important, is that their presence is associated with a clear worse performance. Therefore, when treating a patient with anxiety widespread, so if you have or not associated depression, would be necessary to assess the presence of these painful symptoms during treatment and follow-up. ”

the influence of the painful symptoms

the results of the study show that painful somatic symptoms in patients with generalized anxiety relate directly on its functionality and productivity. The Group of patients with anxiety and painful symptoms, 88.8% had normal functionality. If compared with the group that showed no pain, this percentage is reduced to 39.9%.

In patients with depression and generalized anxiety, only 4.6 per cent of them had a normal functionality. On the other hand, the figure rises to 38% in patients who related anxiety and depression, but not painful symptoms.

In addition, patients with generalized anxiety accompanied by painful symptoms showed lower productivity, measured in days per week, than those who did not have them (2.3 days / week from low productivity to 1.1). This difference was most notable in patients with anxiety and depression with painful symptoms (3.9 days / week from low productivity) in relation to those with no pain (1.9 days / week from low productivity).

Characteristics of the study

The study was prepared by the doctors A. l. Montejo, Professor of the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Salamanca; (F) Knight, Department of research in Madrid Madrid service primary care; L Knight, Dept. of Psychiatry of the Hospital Puerta de Hierro Madrid; J. Arbesú, Center of health in Eria, Oviedo; as well as Irene Romera and immaculate Gilaberte, the Department’s research clinic of Lilly Spain.

During the dates in which the study was conducted was a first screening to detect patients with anxiety, according to the subscale of anxiety of the hospital level of depression and anxiety (HADS-A). The diagnosis was confirmed with the interview Neuropsiquiatrica international Mini (Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.). More than 7,000 initial patient, 981 presented generalized anxiety. This group was divided in turn into two arms to analyze the subgroup of patients presenting comorbidity with major depression (n = 559) and another subgroup with single generalized anxiety (n = 422). 336 Patients were included in the Group’s control, without anxiety and depression.

On Lilly

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