Neurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department.

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients referred to general neurology outpatient clinics, to compare disability and number of somatic symptoms in patients with and without emotional disorder, the relation to neurological disease, and assess the need fo...

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Main Authors: Carson, A, Ringbauer, B, MacKenzie, L, Warlow, C, Sharpe, M
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2000
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author Carson, A
Ringbauer, B
MacKenzie, L
Warlow, C
Sharpe, M
author_facet Carson, A
Ringbauer, B
MacKenzie, L
Warlow, C
Sharpe, M
author_sort Carson, A
collection OXFORD
description OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients referred to general neurology outpatient clinics, to compare disability and number of somatic symptoms in patients with and without emotional disorder, the relation to neurological disease, and assess the need for psychiatric treatment as perceived by patients and doctors. METHODS: A prospective cohort study set in a regional neurology service in Edinburgh, Scotland. The subjects were 300 newly referred consecutive outpatients who were assessed for DSM IV anxiety and depressive disorders (PRIME-MD, and HAD), health status, and disability (SF-36), and patients', GPs' and neurologists' ratings of the need for patient to receive psychiatric or psychological treatment. RESULTS: Of 300 new patients, 140 (47%) met criteria for one or more DSM IV anxiety or depressive diagnosis. Major depression was the most common (27%). A comparison of patients with and without emotional disorder showed that physical function, physical role functioning, bodily pain, and social functioning were worse in patients with emotional disorders (p<0. 0005). The median number of somatic symptoms was greater in patients with emotional disorders (p<0.0005). These differences were independent of the presence of neurological disease. Few patients wished to receive psychiatric or psychological treatments. Both general practitioners and neurologists were more likely to recommend psychiatric treatment when the patients' symptoms were medically unexplained. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of new referrals to general neurology clinics met criteria for a DSM IV psychiatric diagnosis. These patients were more disabled, and had more somatic symptoms. They expressed little enthusiasm for receiving psychiatric treatment.
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spelling oxford-uuid:9a3d2a67-23dd-4e50-bec2-f948941f87692022-03-27T00:20:00ZNeurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:9a3d2a67-23dd-4e50-bec2-f948941f8769EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2000Carson, ARingbauer, BMacKenzie, LWarlow, CSharpe, MOBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders in patients referred to general neurology outpatient clinics, to compare disability and number of somatic symptoms in patients with and without emotional disorder, the relation to neurological disease, and assess the need for psychiatric treatment as perceived by patients and doctors. METHODS: A prospective cohort study set in a regional neurology service in Edinburgh, Scotland. The subjects were 300 newly referred consecutive outpatients who were assessed for DSM IV anxiety and depressive disorders (PRIME-MD, and HAD), health status, and disability (SF-36), and patients', GPs' and neurologists' ratings of the need for patient to receive psychiatric or psychological treatment. RESULTS: Of 300 new patients, 140 (47%) met criteria for one or more DSM IV anxiety or depressive diagnosis. Major depression was the most common (27%). A comparison of patients with and without emotional disorder showed that physical function, physical role functioning, bodily pain, and social functioning were worse in patients with emotional disorders (p<0. 0005). The median number of somatic symptoms was greater in patients with emotional disorders (p<0.0005). These differences were independent of the presence of neurological disease. Few patients wished to receive psychiatric or psychological treatments. Both general practitioners and neurologists were more likely to recommend psychiatric treatment when the patients' symptoms were medically unexplained. CONCLUSIONS: Almost half of new referrals to general neurology clinics met criteria for a DSM IV psychiatric diagnosis. These patients were more disabled, and had more somatic symptoms. They expressed little enthusiasm for receiving psychiatric treatment.
spellingShingle Carson, A
Ringbauer, B
MacKenzie, L
Warlow, C
Sharpe, M
Neurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department.
title Neurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department.
title_full Neurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department.
title_fullStr Neurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department.
title_full_unstemmed Neurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department.
title_short Neurological disease, emotional disorder, and disability: they are related: a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department.
title_sort neurological disease emotional disorder and disability they are related a study of 300 consecutive new referrals to a neurology outpatient department
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AT mackenziel neurologicaldiseaseemotionaldisorderanddisabilitytheyarerelatedastudyof300consecutivenewreferralstoaneurologyoutpatientdepartment
AT warlowc neurologicaldiseaseemotionaldisorderanddisabilitytheyarerelatedastudyof300consecutivenewreferralstoaneurologyoutpatientdepartment
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