Prevalence of comorbid psychiatric illness and substance misuse in primary care in England and Wales

Abstract

Study objective: To estimate the annual period prevalence of co-occurring psychiatric illness and substance misuse among patients in primary care. Design: Analysis of the general practice research database. Setting: England and Wales, 1993-1998. Participants: Registered patients at 230 general practices representing 3.1% of the population. A comorbid case was defined as one with both a psychiatric diagnosis and substance misuse diagnosis (not including alcohol or tobacco) within a calendar year. A potentially chronic comorbid case was one that met this definition and, in addition, was treated in subsequent years for either a psychiatric condition or substance misuse. Main results: The annual period prevalence of comorbidity increased from 50/100 000 patient years of exposure (PYE) to 80/100 000 PYE, an increase of 62% during the study period. Rates of comorbid psychoses, comorbid schizophrenia, and comorbid paranoia increased by 147%, 128%, and 144%. The average age of comorbid cases decreased from 38 years to 34 years. Over 80% of comorbid cases were newly diagnosed in each study year, although many are treated in subsequent years for either psychiatric illness or substance misuse.Conclusions: This study provides data on the nature and extent of comorbidity in primary care in England and Wales. As the comorbidity rate is increasing by about 10% each year, and as comorbid cases are becoming younger, it is probable that the comorbidity rate will have increased beyond the study end point.

Challenges and Struggles: Lived Experiences of Individuals With Co-occurring Disorders

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Recent trends in the incidence of anxiety and prescription of anxiolytics and hypnotics in children and young people: An e-cohort study

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Surgical management of colorectal cancer in patients with psychiatric disorders

“…1,2 Patients with psychiatric disorders who have cancer often present with complicated medical and psychiatric problems. These patients have diffi culties coping with the diagnosis and treatment of cancer and may ignore warning signs and symptoms because of their cognitive impairment.…”