Factors associated with delayed diagnosis of mood and/or anxiety disorders

This study examined the association between time to diagnosis and sociodemographic and clinical characteristics as well as time to diagnosis and physical and mental health status, among Canadian adults with a self-reported mood and/or anxiety disorder diagnosis.

We used data from the 2014 Survey on Living with Chronic Diseases in Canada-Mood and Anxiety Disorders Component. The study sample (n=3212) was divided into three time to diagnosis subgroups: long (> 5 years), moderate (1-5 years) and short (< 1 year). We performed descriptive and multinomial multivariate logistic regression analyses. Estimates were weighted to represent the Canadian adult household population living in the 10 provinces with diagnosed mood and/or anxiety disorders.

The majority (61.6%) of Canadians with a mood and/or anxiety disorder diagnosis reported having received their diagnosis more than one year after symptom onset (30.0% reported a moderate delay and 31.6% a long delay). Upon controlling for individual characteristics, we found significant associations between a moderate delay and having no or few physical comorbidities; a long delay and older age; and both moderate and long delays and early age of symptom onset. In addition, a long delay was significantly associated with "poor" or "fair" perceived mental health and the greatest number of activity limitations.

These findings affirm that a long delay in diagnosis is associated with negative health outcomes among Canadian adults with mood and/or anxiety disorders. Time to diagnosis is particularly suboptimal among older adults and people with early symptom onset. Tailored strategies to facilitate an early diagnosis for those at greatest risk of a delayed diagnosis, especially for those with early symptom onset, are needed.