The British Journal of Psychiatry 141: 162-165 (1982)
© 1982 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
Vegetative symptoms in anxiety and depression
RJ Mathew, AA Swihart and ML Weinman
The incidence of vegetative symptoms was found to be higher in 61
medication-free patients with anxiety compared to an equal number of age
and sex-matched normal controls. Multiple regression analysis identified
depression, as rated by Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), as the most highly
predictive factor associated with these symptoms. Twenty-two anxious
patients who obtained scores less than 5 on BDI (absent or minimal
depression) were compared with an equal number of age and sex-matched
patients with depression. The depressed patients reported a higher
indicence of sleep disturbances, weight loss and appetite loss.