Concurrent psychiatric comorbidity and multimorbidity in a community study: gender differences and quality of life

This study analysis of a community cohort at the age of 35 focused on the effects of gender and multimorbidity on quality of life and subjective distress. Consistent with an earlier analysis, quality of life decreased with increasing numbers of concurrent psychiatric diagnoses. Women generally reported lower quality of life and higher distress than men. Relative to men, well-being in women was subject to more diagnostic (alcohol abuse/dependence, depression, generalized anxiety disorder, bulimia) and social influences (partner, promotion). The same factors predicted women's psychological and physical well-being, indicating a more holistic experience in women. Men's physical well-being did not correlate with any of the diagnostic or social variables measured.