analyse GAD impact on clinical and self-perceived health status in outpatients followed in Psychiatric clinics.

Multicentre, cross-sectional study enrolling subjects above 18 years-old with GAD according with ICD-10. Participants were chosen at ramdon by quotes and weighted geographically, but patients were enrolled consecutively. HAM-A and CGI-S were administered to determine clinical status and SF-36 and Sheehan disability scales for health status assessment.

A total of 792 patients; 15.7% naives (GADn), 68.9% women, mean (SD) age of 40.0 (12.9) years were included. Time to effective diagnosis and start up of treatment were, respectively, 2.3 (4.9) and 2.6 (4.7) years. Severe symtoms of anxiety (HAM-A > 24) were presented in 45.2%; 56.9% in GADn vs 43.0% on-treatment (GADt), p<0.001. CGI-S was 3.7 (1.1) in GADn vs. 4.2 (0.8) in GADt, p<0.001. The 77,7% of GADt were receiving 2 or more drugs: 94.1% ansiolytics and/or antidepressants. The 39.3% of subjects showed high/extreme disability for work; 44.4% GADn vs 38.5% GADt, p=0.33, 34.5% for daily-living domestic activities; 39.7% vs 33.7% respectively, p=0.082, and 41.8% for social life; 43.1% vs 41.7% respectively, p=0,145. Mental composite summary of SF-36 was below normal; 30,0 (11,4), much lower in GADn: 25,4 (8,5) vs. 30,8 (11,7), p<0.001. No gender differences were found.

This study showed that a considerable proportion of GAD patients still need for additional medical remedies which should improve the level of disability caused by the diasease and counteract the deteriorated mental health observed in such patients.