Article

Prevalence, characteristics and comorbidities of anxiety disorders in France: results from the "Mental Health in General Population" survey (MHGP).

Department of Public Health, University of Rennes 1, Faculty of Medicine, 2, avenue du Pr.-Léon-Bernard, CS 34317, 35043 Rennes cedex, France.
European Psychiatry (impact factor: 2.77). 09/2011; 26(6):339-45. DOI:10.1016/j.eurpsy.2009.12.001
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Only a few European countries have carried out large, community-based, national surveys about psychiatric morbidity. Here is presented the first national French survey, aiming to estimate the prevalence of anxiety disorders and associated comorbidities according to sociodemographic characteristics.
The Mental Health in General Population (MHGP) database is derived from a representative national survey of the French adult population (n=36,105), conducted between 1999 and 2003. Data collection was done using an anonymous face-to-face interview. The presence of anxiety disorders (generalized anxiety disorder, panic disorder, agoraphobia, social phobia and post-traumatic stress disorder) was assessed using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview.
The overall prevalence of anxiety disorders was estimated to be 21.6%, generalized anxiety disorder being the most prevalent one (12.8%). Women, young people, and people earning low income were identified as the more at risk. Major depressive episode, alcohol abuse and drug addiction frequently co-occur with anxiety disorders (28.3, 4.4 and 2.8% respectively).
The MHGP study showed that anxiety disorders are highly prevalent in France with a high frequency of comorbidities. Our results highlight the need for considering anxiety disorders as a public health priority in France as well as in other European countries.

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    Article: Psychological balance in high level athletes: gender-based differences and sport-specific patterns.
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    ABSTRACT: Few epidemiological studies have focused on the psychological health of high level athletes. This study aimed to identify the principal psychological problems encountered within French high level athletes, and the variations in their prevalence based on sex and the sport practiced. Multivariate analyses were conducted on nationwide data obtained from the athletes' yearly psychological evaluations. A representative sample of 13% of the French athlete population was obtained. 17% of athletes have at least one ongoing or recent disorder, generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) being the most prevalent (6%), followed by non-specific eating disorders (4.2%). Overall, 20.2% of women had at least one psychopathology, against 15.1% in men. This female predominance applied to anxiety and eating disorders, depression, sleep problems and self-harming behaviors. The highest rates of GAD appeared in aesthetic sports (16.7% vs. 6.8% in other sports for men and 38.9% vs. 10.3% for women); the lowest prevalence was found in high risk sports athletes (3.0% vs. 3.5%). Eating disorders are most common among women in racing sports (14% vs. 9%), but for men were found mostly in combat sports (7% vs. 4.8%). This study highlights important differences in psychopathology between male and female athletes, demonstrating that the many sex-based differences reported in the general population apply to elite athletes. While the prevalence of psychological problems is no higher than in the general population, the variations in psychopathology in different sports suggest that specific constraints could influence the development of some disorders.
    PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(5):e19007. · 4.09 Impact Factor

Keywords

2.8% respectively
 
anonymous face-to-face interview
 
anxiety disorders
 
European countries
 
first national French survey
 
French adult population
 
generalized anxiety disorder
 
low income
 
Major depressive episode
 
Mental Health
 
MHGP study
 
Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview
 
national surveys
 
panic disorder
 
post-traumatic stress disorder
 
psychiatric morbidity
 
public health priority
 
representative national survey
 
sociodemographic characteristics
 
young people