HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS Psychiatric Bulletin Advances in Psychiatric Treatment All RCPsych Journals		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Data Supplement Submit an eLetter Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Related articles in BJP Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via CrossRef Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by SAARNI, S. I. Articles by LÖNNQVIST, J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by SAARNI, S. I. Articles by LÖNNQVIST, J.

Impact of psychiatric disorders on health-related quality of life: general population survey

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.

Related articles in BJP:

Highlights of this issue

Kimberlie Dean
BJP 2007 190: A13. [Full Text]  

This article has been cited by other articles:

				S. I. Saarni, K. Joutsenniemi, S. Koskinen, J. Suvisaari, S. Pirkola, H. Sintonen, K. Poikolainen, and J. LOnnqvist Alcohol Consumption, Abstaining, Health Utility, and Quality of Life - A General Population Survey in Finland Alcohol Alcohol., February 1, 2008; (2008) agn003v1. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. A. Badaracco Keeping Our Depressed Patients in the Right Treatment Long Enough for Them to Get Better: Some Hopeful Findings Am J Psychiatry, August 1, 2007; 164(8): 1136 - 1139. [Full Text] [PDF]