V Manicavasagar1, D Silove, D Hadzi-Pavlovic. 1. Psychiatry Research and Teaching Unit, South Western Sydney Area Health Service, Liverpool, NSW, Australia.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The present study aims to examine whether discrete subpopulations can be identified according to their levels of early separation anxiety (SA), and if so, whether such a typology of SA influences risk to particular adult anxiety disorders. METHODS: Mixture analysis was applied to early SA scores provided retrospectively by a composite group (n=1800) of adult community and patient samples. The distribution of adult anxiety diagnoses across the SA categories was assessed in a community (n=136) and a clinic (n=74) sample. RESULTS: The mixture analysis yielded two subpopulations according to SA scores. Odds ratios for assignment to the high SA category for the various anxiety disorders ranged from 3.6 to 6.7. A logistic regression analysis revealed that when comorbidity was taken into account, the panic disorder-agoraphobia (PD-Ag) group was the only anxiety disorder to be associated with the high SA category. CONCLUSION: Assignment to a high early SA category appears to increase risk to adult anxiety disorders, particularly PD-Ag. Several possible pathways may account for such a risk including the persistence of separation anxiety disorder into adulthood. LIMITATIONS: Assessment of early SA was made using a retrospective measure and the samples included groups which were known to have high SA scores. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Only a subpopulation of anxiety sufferers may have elevated levels of SA. Identification of this group may be important for early detection and intervention.
BACKGROUND: The present study aims to examine whether discrete subpopulations can be identified according to their levels of early separation anxiety (SA), and if so, whether such a typology of SA influences risk to particular adult anxiety disorders. METHODS: Mixture analysis was applied to early SA scores provided retrospectively by a composite group (n=1800) of adult community and patient samples. The distribution of adult anxiety diagnoses across the SA categories was assessed in a community (n=136) and a clinic (n=74) sample. RESULTS: The mixture analysis yielded two subpopulations according to SA scores. Odds ratios for assignment to the high SA category for the various anxiety disorders ranged from 3.6 to 6.7. A logistic regression analysis revealed that when comorbidity was taken into account, the panic disorder-agoraphobia (PD-Ag) group was the only anxiety disorder to be associated with the high SA category. CONCLUSION: Assignment to a high early SA category appears to increase risk to adult anxiety disorders, particularly PD-Ag. Several possible pathways may account for such a risk including the persistence of separation anxiety disorder into adulthood. LIMITATIONS: Assessment of early SA was made using a retrospective measure and the samples included groups which were known to have high SA scores. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Only a subpopulation of anxiety sufferers may have elevated levels of SA. Identification of this group may be important for early detection and intervention.
Authors: Katherine Shear; Robert Jin; Ayelet Meron Ruscio; Ellen E Walters; Ronald C Kessler Journal: Am J Psychiatry Date: 2006-06 Impact factor: 18.112
Authors: Peter M Lewinsohn; Jill M Holm-Denoma; Jason W Small; John R Seeley; Thomas E Joiner Journal: J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry Date: 2008-05 Impact factor: 8.829