To investigate the association between fruit and vegetable consumption and self-reported physical and mental functional health measured by an anglicised short-form 36-item questionnaire (UK SF-36).

Population-based cross-sectional study.

General community in Norfolk, UK.

A total of 16 792 men and women aged 40–79 years recruited from general practice population registers as part of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer (EPIC)–Norfolk study, who completed food-frequency questionnaires in 1993–1997 and Health and Life Experiences Questionnaires 18 months later, were enrolled in the study.

Mean SF-36 physical component summary scores increased significantly with increasing total fruit and vegetable consumption in both men and women (P <  0.0001 for trend). Men and women in the top quartile of consumption compared with the bottom quartile had a significantly higher likelihood of reporting good physical health (defined as a score ≥ 55); odds ratio (OR) 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–1.53 for men and OR 1.28, 95% CI 1.11–1.48 for women, after controlling for age, body mass index, smoking, education, social class, prevalent illness and total energy intake. Exclusion of current smokers and people with prevalent illness did not alter the associations.

Higher fruit and vegetable consumption is associated with better self-reported physical functional health within a general population. Increasing daily intake by two portions of fruit and vegetables was associated with an 11% higher likelihood of good functional health. Since the current average consumption of fruit and vegetables in the UK is about three portions, the recommended ‘five a day’ strategy may have additional benefit for functional as well as other health outcomes in the population.

Associations have been demonstrated between contextual (area level) factors and a range of physical health outcomes, but their relationship with mental health outcomes is less well understood.

To investigate the relative strength of association between individual and area-level demographic and socioeconomic factors and mood disorder prevalence in the UK.

Cross-sectional data from 19 687 participants from the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition in Norfolk.

Area deprivation was associated with current (12-month) mood disorders after adjusting for individual-level socio-economic status (OR for top v. bottom quartile of deprivation scores 1.29, 95% C11.1–1.5, P < 0.001). However, this association was small relative to those observed for individual marital and employment status. Significant residual area-level variation in current mood disorders (representing 3.6% of total variation, P=0.04) was largely accounted for by individual-level factors.

The magnitude of the association between socio-economic status and mood disorders is greater at the individual level than at the area level.

Understanding of the impact of depressive and anxiety disorders on functional health status in the context of chronic medical illness has been gained almost exclusively from the study of patient populations.

To compare the impact of major depressive and generalised anxiety disorder with that of chronic medical conditions on functional health in a UK resident population.

The functional health of 20 921 study participants was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 questionnaire. Depressive and anxiety disorder episode histories and chronic medical conditions were assessed using independent self-completed questionnaires.

The degree of physical functional impairment associated with mood disorders was of equivalent magnitude to that associated with the presence of chronic medical conditions or with being some 12 years older.

Depressive and anxiety disorders have a profound impact on functional health that is independent of chronic medical illness. Chronic anxiety is associated with physical health limitations in excess of those associated with chronic depression or any of the physical health conditions considered, except for stroke.

The adequacy of pharmacotherapy received in practice by patients after an acute episode of depression has been little studied.

To describe and assess adequacy of drug continuation and maintenance in patients with depression.

Patients with depression were interviewed 18 months after discharge from hospital. Quantitative assessments of drug treatment doses and compliance were made monthly over this period, and qualitative ratings in continuation and maintenance phases.

About 20% of patients were prescribed low drug doses after discharge and 10% were prescribed no drugs at all. Reported compliance was around 70%. About 30% failed to receive adequate longer-term treatment, mostly due to the continuation phase being too short. Deficiencies of dosage and compliance were greater in patients who never achieved full recovery. Patient refusal was the most common reason for not using antidepressants. Further episodes of depression were not particularly associated with inadequate treatment.

There were deficiencies in drug treatment that did not appear to be the principal cause of further episodes but may be important in non-recovery. Patient fears require discussion.