Mental disorders in a population sample with musculoskeletal disorders

Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Psychiatry
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Previous studies indicate a higher prevalence of mood disorders in individuals with rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis.
• Research suggests anxiety disorders may be more strongly associated with arthritis than depression.
• A link between lifetime substance use disorders and arthritis has also been reported.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between arthritis and psychiatric morbidity in the Canadian general population.
• To examine the prevalence of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders in individuals with arthritis.
• To assess the independent contribution of arthritis and mental disorders to disability.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS) iteration 1.2.
• Included a sample of 36,984 randomly selected subjects from the national population.
• Administered the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview and asked about arthritis/rheumatism diagnoses.

Main Results:

• Individuals reporting arthritis or rheumatism showed an elevated prevalence of mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders.
• The association strength was comparable to other chronic conditions but weaker than back pain or fibromyalgia.
• Arthritis and mental disorders independently contributed to disability, with age moderating the arthritis association.

Conclusions:

• Arthritis is associated with psychiatric morbidity across various mental disorders in the general population.
• The strength of this association is consistent with other self-reported medical conditions.
• Both arthritis and mental health disorders are independent contributors to disability.