Læknablaðið : fylgirit - 01.08.2003, Side 16

I ABSTRACTS / 27TH NORDIC PSYCHIATRIC CONGRESS
sant cardiac side effects should also be considered when making de-
cisions on drug treatment of psychotic patients.
References
• Ray WA, Meredith S, Thapa PB, Meador KG, Hall K, Murray KT. Antipsy-
chotics and the risk of sudden cardiac death. Arch Gen Psychiatry 2001; 58:
1161-7.
• Witchel HJ, Hancox JC, Nutt DJ. Psychotropic drugs, cardiac arrhythmia, and
sudden death. J Clin Psychopharmacol 2003; 23: 58-77.
F - 2 / 4 Thursday 14/8,15:00-16:00
Schizophrenia, neuroleptic medication, and mortality
Matti Joukamaa, Professor of Social Psychiatry, University of Tampere, Finland,
Kajaaninkatu 28 A 17, FIN-90100, Oulu, Finland. Markku Heliövaara, Paul Knekt, Arpo
Aromaa, Raimo Raitasalo, Ville Lehtinen.
matti.joukamaa@uta.fi
In the Mini-Finland Health Study comprising a representative
population sample of Finns aged 30 or more (N=7217), we analysed
the mortality of schizophrenics (N=99). A comprehensive health
examination was carried out at baseline. Mental disorders were
determined using the 36-item version of the General Health Ques-
tionnaire and the Present State Examination. During the 17-year
follow-up 39 of the 99 schizophrenics died. The number of neuro-
leptic drugs the schizophrenics used by the time of the baseline
survey was directly proportional to their subsequent risk of dying.
Adjusted for age and sex, the schizophrenics using one, two and
three or more neuroleptics had a relative risk (95% confidence
interval) of2.7 (1.5-5.0),3.3 (2.0-5.4) and 7.6 (3.8-15.3), respectively.
After further adjustment for somatic diseases and other potential
risk factors for dying (smoking, blood pressure, LDL and HDL
cholesterol, body mass index, and physical activity), schizophrenia
and the number of neuroleptic drugs the patients used still pre-
dicted premature mortality. There remains an urgent need to clarify
whether the high mortality among schizophrenics is mainly attribu-
table to the disorder per se or the antipsychotic medication.
F-3/1 Thursday 14/8,15:00-16:00
Severity of anxiety and risk of depression
Jón G. Stefánssoni, Psychiatrist, Landspítali University Hospital, Reykjavík, Iceland. H
Óskarsson^, H Kolbeinsson*, Þ Þorgeirsson3, Nikolai GagunashvilP, J Gulcher3, K
Stefánsson3.
>Landspítali University Hospital, 2Therapeia Reykjavík, 3deCode Genetics, Reykjavík,
Iceland.
jongst@landspitali. is
Objective: To investigate the frequency of depressive disorders
(Major Depressive Disorder and/or Dysthymia) among persons
with Anxiety Disorders.
Method: The study is based on the screening for anxiety in a popu-
lation sample, followed by diagnostic work-up with the compute-
rized version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview
(CIDI). ICs have to meet criteria for either an ICD-10 or a DSM 3-
R anxiety diagnosis. The number of anxiety disorders for each IC
was calculated and their Odds Ratio (OR) of receiving a diagnosis
of depressive disorders.
Rcsults: 1.136 cases were diagnosed with a lifetime diagnosis of
anxiety disorders. The co-occurrence of other anxiety disorders is
highest in Panic Disorder, with an average of 2.7 per IC, but lowest
in Social Phobia, 1.7 per IC (P<0.001). The co-morbidity of anxiety
with depressive disorder is also found to be high (66.9%); the
highest OR is found in Generalized Anxiety Disorder (6.6) and
Panic Disorder (4.5). With multiple anxiety disorders the risk of co-
morbid depressive disorder is increased, the difference between
those with one or five disorders being highly significant (P<0.001).
Condusions: Co-morbidity between the anxiety disorders is high, a
possible explanation being that the anxiety disorders have common
origins, with PD being the most severe form of these disorders. The
linear relationship between depression prevalence and number of
anxiety co-morbid conditions points to common etiological factors
in the genesis of these disorders.
F-3/2 Thursday 14/8,15:00-16:00
Panic disorder and anxiety comorbidity - parallels in the
age of onset
Itögni Óskursson. Psychiatrist, Therapeia, Suðurgötu 12, 101 Reykjavík, Iceland. H.
Kolbeinsson, E Líndal, Þ Þorgeirsson, J Gulcher, K Stefánsson, JG Stefánsson.
Aims: To clarify the interrelationship between comorbid anxiety
disorders by analysing parallels in their age of onset, using Panic
Disorder (PD) as a reference point.
Methods: Original sample based on a population screening for
anxiety in Iceland, followed by diagnostic work-up based on the
Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Our analysis was
based on three Age of Onset (AGO) PD subgroups and AGO of
the comorbid anxiety disorders.
Rcsults: 1.134 individuals received a lifetime anxiety disorder diag-
nosis, 252 had PD. A third had developed PD before age 16,79% by
age 30, averaging 2.8 comorbid lifetime anxiety diagnoses. Within the
age group range the rise in AGO of each comorbid anxiety disorder
is statistically significant (P<0.001). The rise in AGO of Major
Depression through the age groups is significant only when the two
first age groups are combined and compared with the oldest group
(P<0.001). There is no significant rise in AGO of dysthymia. Anxiety
comorbidity is highest in those whose PD starts early (P<0.001).
Conclusion: Anxiety disorders comorbid with Panic Disorder, have
their onset in close relation to the onset of Panic disorder. Through
analysing AGO and comorbidity among anxiety disorders we
conclude that there is a common trait diathesis to anxiety disorders.
F - 3 / 3 Thursday 14/8,15:00-16:00
The prevalence of bipolar disorders in a group of persons
with panic disorder
Jon G. Stefúnsson>, Psychiatrist, Landspítali University Hospital. Reykjavík, Iceland. H
Kolbeinsson>, Þ Þorgeirsson3, E Líndal1, J Gulcher3, K Stefánsson3, H Óskarsson2.
■Landspítali University Hospital, 2Therapeia Reykjavík, 3deCode Genetics, Reykjavík,
Iceland.
jongst@landspitali. is
Aim: To study the prevalence of bipolar disorder (BPD) in a group
of persons with panic and other anxiety disorders.
16 LÆKNABLAÐIÐ / FYLGIRIT 48 2003/89