Study on clinical features of female patients with recurrent major depression comorbidity with general anxiety disorder

Abstract

Objective To explore the clinical features of female diagnosed recurrent major depression(MD) comorbidity with general anxiety disorder (GAD). Methods 301 females patients with recurrent major depression were interviewed by specially trained interviewers with using computer evaluation system and divided into comorbidity group and non-comorbidity group according to whether comorbid MD with GAD or without GAD. The comparison between the two groups included items of demographic, clinical data, assessment of psychopathology, Eysenck neuroticism questionnaire (EPQ), stressful life events, parental bonding instrument. Results 25.2% of patients of MD coexistence GAD. There was no significant difference in sociodemographic data between the two groups. Significant differences among total number of depression symptoms(OR=1.439, 95%CI=1.049-1.975, P=0.024), duration of illness(OR=1.253, 95%CI=1.010-1.475, P=0.048), psychomotor agitation(OR=2.031, 95%CI=1.123-3.676, P=0.019), suicidal thought(OR=2.228, 95%CI=1.010-4.912, P=0.047), anxiety(OR=5.547, 95%CI=1.935-15.896, P=0.001), irritable(OR=1.956, 95%CI=1.081-3.542, P=0.027)were identified between the two group. In the comorbidity group, the score of nenroticism dimention derived from EPQ was also higher(OR=2.287, 95%CI=1.674-3.124, P=2.287×10-7)than that of non-comorbidity group. There was no significant difference of stressful life events between two groups(OR=1.118, 95%CI=0.913-1.368, P=0.280). Conclusion This study suggests the phenomena that female patients of recurrent depression disorder comorbidity with general anxiety disorders is common in clinical. The patients comorbid MD and GAD have more symptoms, neuroticism and be worse in severity. Key words: Recurrent major depression; General anxiety disorder; Comorbidity; Female; Clinical feature