Nationwide Transdiagnostic Age and Sex Patterns in Mental Disorder Disease Development

Area of Science:

• Psychiatry and Mental Health
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Mental disorders often involve recurrent episodes and diagnostic changes.
• Limited research exists on transdiagnostic disease development patterns beyond comorbid pairs and mortality.
• Understanding heterogeneity in mental disorder progression is vital for effective interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate sex and age-specific patterns in disease development across seven major mental disorder groups.
• To analyze diagnostic shifts, recurrence, and psychiatric contact frequency in relation to initial diagnosis, age, and sex.

Main Methods:

• A nationwide Danish cohort study (2000-2018) included 273,400 adults with first-time diagnoses in 7 major mental disorder categories.
• Analysis involved calculating age- and sex-specific estimates of diagnostic shifts, recurrence, and psychiatric contacts.
• Data were analyzed using age groups (18-60+) and sex (male/female).

Main Results:

• 24.3% of individuals experienced diagnostic shifts, with 11.8% having multiple shifts.
• Psychotic disorders were associated with the highest psychiatric contact and diagnostic shift rates.
• Younger age at first contact correlated with increased psychiatric contacts and diagnostic shifts; sex influenced specific diagnostic shift probabilities.

Conclusions:

• Mental disorder progression is highly dependent on initial diagnosis, patient sex, and age group.
• Findings inform treatment planning and follow-up strategies for personalized mental healthcare.
• Identifying high-risk individuals can enhance the effectiveness of preventive initiatives.