Is anyone really M.A.D.?: the occurrence and course of mixed anxiety-depressive disorder in a sample of primary care patients

J Nerv Ment Dis. 2005 Apr;193(4):223-30. doi: 10.1097/01.nmd.0000158379.14063.cd.

Abstract

We examined the occurrence and 1-year course of mixed anxiety-depressive disorder (MAD) in a sample of primary care patients. Participants are part of the Primary Care Anxiety Project, a naturalistic, longitudinal study of anxiety disorders in primary care. Participants completed a questionnaire screening for anxiety symptoms. Those screening positive were invited for an interview to diagnose MAD and DSM-IV Axis I disorders. Participants were then interviewed at 6 and 12 months postintake. Of 1634 participants completing an intake interview, four participants (0.2%) met complete DSM-IV MAD criteria. The adjusted probability of remitting from MAD in 1 year was 80%. Although this was not a prevalence study, results indicate a very low occurrence of MAD across 15 primary care settings. Further, they indicate that this diagnosis may not be stable across time and raise doubts about its utility.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anxiety Disorders / diagnosis*
  • Anxiety Disorders / epidemiology*
  • Comorbidity
  • Depressive Disorder / diagnosis*
  • Depressive Disorder / epidemiology*
  • Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Health Status
  • Humans
  • International Classification of Diseases / statistics & numerical data
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Outcome Assessment, Health Care
  • Primary Health Care / statistics & numerical data
  • Probability
  • Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / statistics & numerical data
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Terminology as Topic