The authors studied the prevalence of eight chronic medical conditions
in an adult population sample (N = 2,554) with and without psychiatric
disorders. Adjusted for age and sex, the prevalence of any lifetime chronic
medical condition for persons with any lifetime affective, anxiety, or
substance use disorder was 61.4%, 57.1%, and 57.7%, respectively. Each of
these percentages was significantly higher than that for persons with no
lifetime psychiatric disorder (53.4%). Both lifetime affective and anxiety
disorders were uniquely associated with a greater prevalence of any
lifetime chronic medical condition, but the only psychiatric disorders
uniquely associated with current (i.e., active) chronic medical conditions
were anxiety disorders, suggesting that the association between anxiety
disorders and chronic medical conditions develops more quickly than
associations between medical conditions and other psychiatric
disorders.Abstract Teaser