Simone M E Schopman 1,2 , Margreet Ten Have 3 , Saskia van Dorsselaer 3 , Ron de Graaf 3 , Neeltje M Batelaan 2 . Show Affiliations »
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: After remission of an anxiety disorder, subjects often experience persistent functional impairments. We examined whether impairments in mental and physical functioning following remission are a continuation of premorbid lower functioning (trait effect), due to impairments that develop during the anxiety disorder and persist beyond recovery (scar effect), or both. METHODS: Data were derived from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2), a prospective psychiatric epidemiologic study among the general population with a 3-wave design (6-year follow-up, with the study starting in 2007 and ending in 2015). DSM-IV anxiety disorders were measured with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Functioning was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. We evaluated trait effects using between-subjects comparison and scar effects using within-subjects comparisons. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, individuals with anxiety disorders had showed significant impairment in mental functioning (β = -11.6 [SE = 0.78]; P < .001) and physical functioning (β = -12.1 [SE = 1.14]; P < .001) prior to the onset of the anxiety disorder (n = 199), indicating a trait effect. In those who developed an anxiety disorder that remitted within the 6-year follow-up (n = 92), functioning after remission (at second follow-up) was similar to functioning before onset (at baseline), indicating that a scar effect was absent. A trend toward mental scarring was visible in the subgroup with recurrent anxiety disorders (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent functional limitations following remission largely reflect a preexisting trait effect. Since lower levels of functioning are associated with relapse, investments in functional improvement seem worthwhile. Relapse prevention might help to prevent mental scarring. © Copyright 2018 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
OBJECTIVE: After remission of an anxiety disorder , subjects often experience persistent functional impairments. We examined whether impairments in mental and physical functioning following remission are a continuation of premorbid lower functioning (trait effect), due to impairments that develop during the anxiety disorder and persist beyond recovery (scar effect), or both. METHODS: Data were derived from the Netherlands Mental Health Survey and Incidence Study-2 (NEMESIS-2), a prospective psychiatric epidemiologic study among the general population with a 3-wave design (6-year follow-up, with the study starting in 2007 and ending in 2015). DSM-IV anxiety disorders were measured with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Functioning was assessed with the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. We evaluated trait effects using between-subjects comparison and scar effects using within-subjects comparisons. RESULTS: Compared to healthy controls, individuals with anxiety disorders had showed significant impairment in mental functioning (β = -11.6 [SE = 0.78]; P < .001) and physical functioning (β = -12.1 [SE = 1.14]; P < .001) prior to the onset of the anxiety disorder (n = 199), indicating a trait effect. In those who developed an anxiety disorder that remitted within the 6-year follow-up (n = 92), functioning after remission (at second follow-up) was similar to functioning before onset (at baseline), indicating that a scar effect was absent. A trend toward mental scarring was visible in the subgroup with recurrent anxiety disorders (P = .03). CONCLUSIONS: Persistent functional limitations following remission largely reflect a preexisting trait effect. Since lower levels of functioning are associated with relapse, investments in functional improvement seem worthwhile. Relapse prevention might help to prevent mental scarring. © Copyright 2018 Physicians Postgraduate Press, Inc.
Entities: Disease
Mesh: See more »
Year: 2018
PMID: 28817764 DOI: 10.4088/JCP.16m11256
Source DB: PubMed Journal: J Clin Psychiatry ISSN: 0160-6689 Impact factor: 4.384