Asthma and mental disorders in Canada: Impact on functional impairment and mental health service use

• Published in: Journal of psychosomatic research 2010-02, Vol.68 (2), p.165-173
• Main Authors: Goodwin, Renee D, Pagura, Jina, Cox, Brian, Sareen, Jitender
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activities of Daily Living; Adolescent; Adult; Adult and adolescent clinical studies; Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Asthma; Asthma - epidemiology; Asthma - psychology; Biological and medical sciences; Canada; Chronic disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Comorbidity; Disability; Epidemiology; Female; Functional impairment; Health service use; Health Status; Health Surveys; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Mental disorders; Mental Disorders - epidemiology; Mental Disorders - physiopathology; Mental health services; Mental Health Services - utilization; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Pneumology; Psychiatric disorders; Psychiatry; Psychology. Psychoanalysis. Psychiatry; Psychopathology. Psychiatry; Quality of Life; Severity of Illness Index; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires
• ISSN: 0022-3999; 1879-1360
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2009.06.005

Abstract Objective The goal of this study is to examine the association between asthma and mental disorders and the impact of asthma and mental disorder comorbidity on functional impairment and mental health care service use among adults in the community. Methods Data came from the Canadian Community Health Survey Cycle 1.2 ( N =36,984; age ≥15 years; response rate, 77%). Mental disorders were assessed using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview. Chronic physical health conditions, quality of life, and disability were also assessed. Asthma diagnoses were based on self-report of having been diagnosed with asthma by a health care professional. Results Asthma was associated with a significantly increased likelihood of a range of mental disorders among adults in Canada, with the strongest links between asthma and posttraumatic stress disorder, mania, and panic disorder. Adults with both mental disorders and asthma had significantly higher rates of functional impairment and use of mental health services, compared with those with either asthma or mental disorders but not both. Conclusions Our findings provide new information suggesting that adults in the community with asthma and mental disorders have higher levels of both short- and long-term health-condition-related functional disability and greater use of mental health services, compared with those with asthma without mental disorders. Results are also consistent with previous studies showing a significant link between asthma and mental disorders. Implications of these findings for efforts aimed at secondary prevention and improving treatment strategies for individuals with both asthma and mental disorders are discussed.