TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2012//
TI  - Psychological distress and risk of long-term disability: population-based longitudinal study
JO  - Journal of epidemiology and community health
A1  - Rai, Dheeraj
A1  - Kosidou, Kyriaki
A1  - Lundberg, Michael
A1  - Araya, Ricardo
A1  - Lewis, Glyn
A1  - Magnusson, Cecilia
SP  - 586
EP  - 592
VL  - 66
IS  - 7
N2  - Background Common mental disorders are known to cause long-term disability, although not much is known about long-term consequences of milder forms of psychological distress. <br><br>OBJECTIVE To investigate the association between increasing levels of psychological distress and 5-year risk of long-term disability pensions awarded for somatic or psychiatric conditions. <br><br>METHODS In this longitudinal population-based study, a cohort of 17 205 individuals, aged 18-64 years, recruited in 2002 in Stockholm County was prospectively followed up for new disability pension awards. The 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) was used to measure baseline psychological distress, and participants were categorised as having no, mild, moderate or severe psychological distress (GHQ-12 scores of 0; 1-2; 3-7 and 8-12, respectively). Details of new disability pension awards were obtained through record linkage with the Swedish National Insurance register. Comprehensive information on a range of sociodemographic, lifestyle and health characteristics was available. <br><br>RESULTS Increasing levels of psychological distress at baseline were associated with an increased likelihood of obtaining a disability pension later in life. Even mild psychological distress was independently associated with the award of a disability pension for both somatic (HR=1.7; 95% CI 1.3 to 2.2) and psychiatric diagnoses (2.2; 1.4 to 3.6). Over a quarter of disability pensions awarded for a somatic diagnosis, and almost two-thirds awarded for a psychiatric diagnosis, could be attributed to psychological distress. <br><br>CONCLUSIONS Mild psychological distress may be associated with more long-term disability than previously acknowledged and its public health importance may be underestimated.<p />
LA  - en
SN  - 0143-005X
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech.2010.119644
ID  - ref1
ER  -