The British Journal of Psychiatry (2007) 190: 326-332. doi: 10.1192/bjp.bp.106.025106
© 2007 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
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Impact of psychiatric disorders on health-related quality of life: general population survey

SAMULI I. SAARNI, MD, MSocSc and JAANA SUVISAARI, MD, PhD

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki

HARRI SINTONEN, PhD

Department of Public Health, University of Helsinki

SAMI PIRKOLA, MD, PhD

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, and National Research and Development Centre for Welfare and Health (STAKES), Helsinki

SEPPO KOSKINEN, MD, PhD and ARPO AROMAA, MD, PhD

Department of Health and Functional Capacity, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki

JOUKO LÖNNQVIST, MD, PhD

Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Helsinki, Finland

Correspondence: Dr Samuli I. Saarni, Department of Mental Health and Alcohol Research, National Public Health Institute, Mannerheimintie 166, 00300 Helsinki, Finland. Tel: +358 40 574 6119; fax: +358 9 4744 8478; email: samuli.saarni{at}helsinki.fi

Declaration of interest None.

Background Measurement of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with generic preference-based instruments enables comparisons of severity across different conditions and treatments. This is necessary for rational public health policy.

Aims To measure HRQoL decrement and loss of quality-adjusted life-years (QALYs) associated with pure and comorbid forms of depressive and anxiety disorders and alcohol dependence.

Method A general population survey was conducted of Finns aged 30 years and over. Psychiatric disorders were diagnosed with the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and HRQoL was measured with the 15D and EQ–5D questionnaires.

Results Dysthymia, generalised anxiety disorder and social phobia were associated with the largest loss of HRQoL on the individual level before and after adjusting for somatic and psychiatric comorbidity. On the population level, depressive disorders accounted for 55%, anxiety disorders 30%, and alcohol dependence for 15% of QALY loss identified in this study.

Conclusions Chronic anxiety disorders and dysthymia are associated with poorer HRQoL than previously thought.


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