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Ingvar Bjelland

Publications and source records attributed to Ingvar Bjelland.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

Association of low blood pressure with anxiety and depression: the Nord-Trøndelag Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Low blood pressure has mainly been regarded as ideal, but recent studies have indicated an association with depression in elderly people. OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether low blood pressure is associated with anxiety and depression in the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Participants in the population-based Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT-2, 1995-7), Norway. PARTICIPANTS: 60,799 men and women aged 20-89 years filled in the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale as part of a general health study. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure was classified in age-stratified and sex-stratified centile groups. MAIN RESULTS: Compared with participants with systolic blood pressure within the 41-60 centile (reference) group, the odds ratio for anxiety was 1.31 (95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.16 to 1.49), for depression 1.22 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.46), and for comorbid anxiety and depression 1.44 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.68) in the group with < or =5 centile systolic blood pressure. Slightly weaker associations were found of low diastolic blood pressure with anxiety and depression. These associations were similar across sex and age groups. Physical impairment, smoking and angina pectoris influenced the associations only marginally, whereas stroke, myocardial infarction, use of drugs for hypertension, body mass index and several other covariates had no influence. CONCLUSIONS: This study represents epidemiological evidence for an association of low blood pressure with anxiety and depression, which is not caused by cardiovascular disease.

Adult↗

Associations between cod liver oil use and symptoms of depression: the Hordaland Health Study.

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials suggest that omega-3 fatty acids improve the outcome of depression. This study aimed to evaluate the association between intake of cod liver oil, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and high levels of symptoms of depression and anxiety in the general population. METHODS: We used data from the "The Hordaland Health Study '97-'99" (HUSK), a population based cross-sectional health survey from Norway including 21,835 subjects aged 40-49 and 70-74 years. Symptoms of depression and anxiety were measured by The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). We used logistic regression to study associations. RESULTS: Among the participants, 8.9% used cod liver oil daily. A total of 3.6% had high levels of depressive symptoms. The prevalence of such depressive symptoms among the subjects who used cod liver oil daily was 2.5%, as compared to 3.8% in the rest of the population. The users of cod liver oil were significantly less likely to have depressive symptoms than non-users after adjusting for multiple possible confounding factors (odds ratio=0.71, 95% confidence interval 0.52 to 0.97). These factors included age, gender, smoking habits, coffee consumption, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and education. In addition, we found that the prevalence of high levels of depressive symptoms decreased with increasing duration (0-12 months) of cod liver oil use (multivariate adjusted test for trend, P=0.04). We were only able to study this latter association in a subset of the population aged 40-46 years. LIMITATIONS: Data are cross sectional. CONCLUSIONS: The findings indicate that regular use of cod liver oil is negatively associated with high levels of depressive symptoms in the general population.

Adult↗

The Hordaland Homocysteine Study: a community-based study of homocysteine, its determinants, and associations with disease.

The Hordaland Homocysteine Study (HHS) is a population-based study of more than 18,000 men and women in the county of Hordaland in Western Norway. The first investigation (HHS-I) took place in 1992-93, when the subjects were aged 40-67 y. In 1997-99, a follow-up study (HHS-II) of 7,053 subjects was carried out. In this large population, plasma levels of total homocysteine (tHcy) are associated with several physiologic and lifestyle factors and common diseases. Increasing age, male sex, smoking, coffee consumption, high blood pressure, unfavorable lipid profile, high creatinine, and the MTHFR 677C > T polymorphism are among the factors associated with increased tHcy levels; physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption, and a good folate or vitamin B-12 status are associated with lower tHcy levels. Subjects with raised tHcy levels have increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity, cardiovascular and noncardiovascular mortality, and are more likely to suffer from depression and from cognitive deficit (elderly). Among women, raised tHcy levels are associated with decreased bone mineral density and increased risk of osteoporosis. Women with raised tHcy levels also have an increased risk of having suffered from pregnancy complications and an adverse pregnancy outcome. Significant associations between tHcy and clinical outcomes are usually observed for tHcy levels > 15 micromol/L, but for most conditions, there is a continuous concentration-response relation with no apparent threshold concentration. Overall, the findings from HHS indicate that a raised tHcy level is associated with multiple clinical conditions, whereas a low tHcy level is associated with better physical and mental health.

Adult↗

Obesity, dyslipidemia, and diabetes with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors: the Hordaland Health Study.

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine whether subjects taking selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are more likely to have elements of the metabolic syndrome compared with those taking no psychotropic drugs. For comparison, we also studied subjects taking antipsychotic drugs. METHOD: We used data from The Hordaland Health Study '97-'99, a general community cross-sectional health survey including 25,315 subjects aged 40 to 49 and 70 to 74 years. For the groups studied, we estimated prevalence and odds ratios (ORs) for obesity, hypercholesterolemia, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyper-triglyceridemia, and diabetes. RESULTS: We observed an association between use of SSRIs as a group (N = 461) and abdominal obesity (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.08 to 1.81) and hypercholesterolemia (OR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.07 to 1.73) after adjusting for multiple possible confounders. There was also a trend toward an association between SSRI use and diabetes. In a subgroup analysis of subjects taking SSRIs, the use of paroxetine (N = 187) was markedly associated with both general and abdominal obesity but not with hypercholesterolemia. In contrast, the use of citalopram (N = 142) was not associated with any of the metabolic outcome variables, while the use of any other SSRI (sertraline, fluoxetine, or fluvoxamine) (N = 131) as a mixed subgroup was associated with both abdominal obesity and hypercholesterolemia. We also replicated the previously reported associations between use of antipsychotics and obesity and metabolic disturbances. CONCLUSION: We have shown that use of at least some SSRIs is associated with clinical and biochemical elements of the metabolic syndrome. Our data indicate differences in the metabolic side effect profile among various SSRI drugs, although treatment bias might have influenced these results. We suggest that patients taking SSRIs be carefully monitored for obesity and dyslipidemia.

Adult↗

Is there an association between haemoglobin, depression, and anxiety in cancer patients?

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to examine the association between haemoglobin levels, anxiety disorder, and depression in cancer patients. METHODS: Cancer patients attending The Norwegian Radium Hospital (NRH) rated themselves on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Five hundred thirty-two patients also had valid measurements of haemoglobin at the same time. The associations between tertile haemoglobin levels (7.0-12.3 g/dl, 12.4-13.8 g/dl, 13.9-17.1 g/dl) and HADS-defined anxiety disorder and depression were analysed by logistic regression. RESULTS: HADS-defined depression was identified in 116 cases (22%) and anxiety disorder in 149 (28%). The haemoglobin levels of the lower and middle tertiles were associated with depression (OR=3.85, 95% CI: 2.06-7.21, and OR=2.45, 95% CI: 1.25-4.81, respectively). Adjustment for covariates did not change the association significantly. No association between haemoglobin and anxiety disorder was found. CONCLUSION: In cancer patients, the risk of depression increases with decreasing haemoglobin levels. This should be taken into account when treatment of anaemic or depressed cancer patients is decided upon.

Adult↗

Folate, vitamin B12, homocysteine, and the MTHFR 677C->T polymorphism in anxiety and depression: the Hordaland Homocysteine Study.

BACKGROUND: An association between depression and folate status has been demonstrated in clinical studies, whereas data are sparse on the relationship between depression and other components of 1-carbon metabolism such as vitamin B12, homocysteine, and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C-->T polymorphism. The relationship between anxiety and these components is less well known. This study examined the associations between folate, total homocysteine, vitamin B12, and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase 677C-->T polymorphism, and anxiety and depression in a large population-based study. METHODS: Anxiety and depression, measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, were assessed in 5948 subjects aged 46 to 49 years (mean, 47.4 years) and 70 to 74 years (mean, 71.9 years) from the Hordaland Homocysteine Study cohort. By means of logistic regression models, anxiety and depression scores were examined in relation to the factors listed above. RESULTS: Overall, hyperhomocysteinemia (plasma total homocysteine level > or =15.0 micro mol/L [> or =2.02 mg/dL]) (odds ratio, 1.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.11-3.25) and T/T methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase genotype (odds ratio, 1.69; 95% confidence interval, 1.09-2.62), but not low plasma folate or vitamin B12 levels, were significantly related to depression without comorbid anxiety disorder. Plasma folate level was inversely associated with depression only in the subgroup of middle-aged women. None of the investigated parameters showed a significant relationship to anxiety. CONCLUSION: Our results provide further evidence of a role of impaired 1-carbon metabolism in depression.

Aged↗

Anxiety and depression in individuals with somatic health problems. The Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT).

OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between anxiety disorders and depression and various somatic health problems in the general population. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study with survey methods and clinical examinations. SETTING: The Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag, Norway (the HUNT study). PARTICIPANTS: 60869 individuals aged 20-89 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Anxiety disorder, depression and their comorbidity are categorized based on scores on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. All somatic health variables are self-reported, while blood pressure, height and weight are measured. Multivariate nominal logistic regression analyses are used to investigate the relationship between somatic variables and the anxiety/depression categories. RESULTS: Most somatic health variables show a stronger association with comorbid anxiety disorder/depression than with anxiety disorder or depression alone. About one-third of individuals reporting somatic health problems also have anxiety disorder and/or depression. CONCLUSION: Somatic health problems carry a high risk of both anxiety disorder and depression. Active identification and treatment of these co-occurring mental disorders are of practical importance.

Adult↗

The validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. An updated literature review.

OBJECTIVE: To review the literature of the validity of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). METHOD: A review of the 747 identified papers that used HADS was performed to address the following questions: (I) How are the factor structure, discriminant validity and the internal consistency of HADS? (II) How does HADS perform as a case finder for anxiety disorders and depression? (III) How does HADS agree with other self-rating instruments used to rate anxiety and depression? RESULTS: Most factor analyses demonstrated a two-factor solution in good accordance with the HADS subscales for Anxiety (HADS-A) and Depression (HADS-D), respectively. The correlations between the two subscales varied from.40 to.74 (mean.56). Cronbach's alpha for HADS-A varied from.68 to.93 (mean.83) and for HADS-D from.67 to.90 (mean.82). In most studies an optimal balance between sensitivity and specificity was achieved when caseness was defined by a score of 8 or above on both HADS-A and HADS-D. The sensitivity and specificity for both HADS-A and HADS-D of approximately 0.80 were very similar to the sensitivity and specificity achieved by the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ). Correlations between HADS and other commonly used questionnaires were in the range.49 to.83. CONCLUSIONS: HADS was found to perform well in assessing the symptom severity and caseness of anxiety disorders and depression in both somatic, psychiatric and primary care patients and in the general population.

Anxiety Disorders↗

Folate and depression.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Depressive Disorder↗