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. 2022 Feb 15:299:22-30.
doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2021.11.056. Epub 2021 Nov 24.

Mood and anxiety profiles differentially associate with physical conditions in US adolescents

Emma K Stapp  1 , Diana Paksarian  1 , Jian-Ping He  1 , Jennifer Glaus  2 , Kevin P Conway  1 , Kathleen R Merikangas  3
Affiliations

Mood and anxiety profiles differentially associate with physical conditions in US adolescents

Emma K Stapp et al. J Affect Disord. .

Abstract

Background: Mood and anxiety are widely associated with physical conditions, but research and treatment are complicated by their overlap, clinical heterogeneity, and manifestation on a spectrum rather than as discrete disorders. In contrast to previous work relying on threshold-level disorders, we examined the association between empirically-derived profiles of mood and anxiety syndromes with physical conditions in a nationally-representative sample of US adolescents.

Methods: Participants were 2,911 adolescents (aged 13-18) from the National Comorbidity Survey-Adolescent Supplement who provided information on physical conditions and reported at least one lifetime mood-anxiety 'syndrome' based on direct interviews with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Version 3.0. Mood-anxiety syndromes reflected 3-level ratings from subthreshold to severe distress/impairment, and subtyped mood episodes. Stepwise latent profile analysis identified mood-anxiety profiles and tested associations with physical conditions.

Results: Three mood-anxiety profiles were identified: "Mood-GAD" (25.6%)-non-atypical depression, mania, generalized anxiety; "Atypical-Panic" (11.3%)-atypical depression, panic; and "Reference" (63.1%)-lower mood and anxiety except specific phobia. Headaches were more prevalent in Mood-GAD and Atypical-Panic than Reference (47.9%, 50.1%, and 37.7%, respectively; p=0.011). Heart problems were more common in Mood-GAD than Atypical-Panic (7.4% v 2.2%, p=0.004) and Reference, with back/neck pain more prevalent in Mood-GAD than Reference (22.5% v 15.3%, p=0.016).

Limitations: Broad categories of physical conditions without information on specific diagnoses; replication regarding specificity is recommended.

Conclusions: Heart problems and pain-related conditions were differentially associated with specific mood-anxiety profiles. Subtyping depression and anxiety-inclusive of subthreshold syndromes-and their patterns of clustering may facilitate etiologic and intervention work in multimorbidity.

Keywords: Anxiety disorders; Chronic pain; Headache; Heart diseases; Mood disorders.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures: All authors declare they have no conflicts of interest.

Declarations of Interest: none.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and should not be construed to represent the views of any of the sponsoring organizations, agencies, or United States Government.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Empirically-derived profiles of impairing mood and anxiety syndromes among US Adolescents
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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