Mental and physical comorbidity in an Arab primary health care setting
Abstract Background There are no published studies on the comorbidity of common mental conditions (anxiety, depression, and somatization) and physical illnesses in the Arab world. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of common mental conditions comorbid with physical illnesses among primary care a...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-09-01
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| Series: | BMC Psychiatry |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-018-1903-8 |
| _version_ | 1819168428589580288 |
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| author | Sulaiman Alkhadhari Aseel Omran Alsabrrie Jude Uzoma Ohaeri Ramani Varghese Muhammad Ajmal Zahid Benoit H Mulsant |
| author_facet | Sulaiman Alkhadhari Aseel Omran Alsabrrie Jude Uzoma Ohaeri Ramani Varghese Muhammad Ajmal Zahid Benoit H Mulsant |
| author_sort | Sulaiman Alkhadhari |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background There are no published studies on the comorbidity of common mental conditions (anxiety, depression, and somatization) and physical illnesses in the Arab world. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of common mental conditions comorbid with physical illnesses among primary care attenders in Kuwait, and the sociodemographic characteristics associated with this comorbidity. Methods The Patient Health Questionnaires for somatization, anxiety and depression (PHQ-SAD) were administered to a representative sample of 1046 attenders (M: F = 429: 617; mean age 37.6, SD 12.7) seen in primary care clinics in Kuwait. Based on well-established cut-off scores, the presence and severity of three mental conditions –depression, anxiety, and somatization—was ascertained; physical diagnoses were ascertained by the attending physicians. Results Of 1046 respondents, 442 (42.3%) had at least one mental condition and 670 (64.1%) had a physical illness diagnosis, viz.: diabetes mellitus (248/670 = 37.0%), hypertension (229/670 = 34.2%), asthma (82/670 = 12.2%), non-chronic physical illnesses (63/670 = 9.4%), or heart disease (48/670 = 7.2%), with 34.4% (360/1046) having mental-physical comorbidity. Male: female ratio for the 670 subjects was 287: 383. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for having a mental condition in those with a physical illness vs. those without a physical illness was 4.16 (95% C.I. = 3.12, 5.55). Comorbidity was associated with older age, being divorced or widowed, a lower level of education, and poorer living conditions. Regardless of the physical illness, the most frequent comorbid mental disorder was somatization. The prevalence and severity of mental conditions were associated with the number of physical illnesses. Conclusion As has been reported in other parts of the world, somatization, anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent among primary care attenders in Kuwait and they are typically comorbid with physical illness. Strategies for their prevention and treatment need to take into consideration their association with physical illness and social disadvantage. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T19:03:27Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-cf3a4b3147a94ffc9edd06865d5d3116 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-244X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T19:03:27Z |
| publishDate | 2018-09-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Psychiatry |
| spelling | doaj.art-cf3a4b3147a94ffc9edd06865d5d31162022-12-21T18:15:52ZengBMCBMC Psychiatry1471-244X2018-09-011811610.1186/s12888-018-1903-8Mental and physical comorbidity in an Arab primary health care settingSulaiman Alkhadhari0Aseel Omran Alsabrrie1Jude Uzoma Ohaeri2Ramani Varghese3Muhammad Ajmal Zahid4Benoit H Mulsant5Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of MedicineAbdullah & Shereefa Almehry Health Center (Alkhaldiya Polyclinic)Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of MedicineDepartment of Psychiatry, University of TorontoAbstract Background There are no published studies on the comorbidity of common mental conditions (anxiety, depression, and somatization) and physical illnesses in the Arab world. Our aim was to estimate the prevalence of common mental conditions comorbid with physical illnesses among primary care attenders in Kuwait, and the sociodemographic characteristics associated with this comorbidity. Methods The Patient Health Questionnaires for somatization, anxiety and depression (PHQ-SAD) were administered to a representative sample of 1046 attenders (M: F = 429: 617; mean age 37.6, SD 12.7) seen in primary care clinics in Kuwait. Based on well-established cut-off scores, the presence and severity of three mental conditions –depression, anxiety, and somatization—was ascertained; physical diagnoses were ascertained by the attending physicians. Results Of 1046 respondents, 442 (42.3%) had at least one mental condition and 670 (64.1%) had a physical illness diagnosis, viz.: diabetes mellitus (248/670 = 37.0%), hypertension (229/670 = 34.2%), asthma (82/670 = 12.2%), non-chronic physical illnesses (63/670 = 9.4%), or heart disease (48/670 = 7.2%), with 34.4% (360/1046) having mental-physical comorbidity. Male: female ratio for the 670 subjects was 287: 383. The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for having a mental condition in those with a physical illness vs. those without a physical illness was 4.16 (95% C.I. = 3.12, 5.55). Comorbidity was associated with older age, being divorced or widowed, a lower level of education, and poorer living conditions. Regardless of the physical illness, the most frequent comorbid mental disorder was somatization. The prevalence and severity of mental conditions were associated with the number of physical illnesses. Conclusion As has been reported in other parts of the world, somatization, anxiety, and depression are highly prevalent among primary care attenders in Kuwait and they are typically comorbid with physical illness. Strategies for their prevention and treatment need to take into consideration their association with physical illness and social disadvantage.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-018-1903-8Primary care attendersMental healthDepressionAnxietyPhysical illnessPrevalence |
| spellingShingle | Sulaiman Alkhadhari Aseel Omran Alsabrrie Jude Uzoma Ohaeri Ramani Varghese Muhammad Ajmal Zahid Benoit H Mulsant Mental and physical comorbidity in an Arab primary health care setting BMC Psychiatry Primary care attenders Mental health Depression Anxiety Physical illness Prevalence |
| title | Mental and physical comorbidity in an Arab primary health care setting |
| title_full | Mental and physical comorbidity in an Arab primary health care setting |
| title_fullStr | Mental and physical comorbidity in an Arab primary health care setting |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mental and physical comorbidity in an Arab primary health care setting |
| title_short | Mental and physical comorbidity in an Arab primary health care setting |
| title_sort | mental and physical comorbidity in an arab primary health care setting |
| topic | Primary care attenders Mental health Depression Anxiety Physical illness Prevalence |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-018-1903-8 |
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