Evidence map›Paper›PMID 21184214›Full record

ArticleSocial psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology2012

The association between chronic illness, multimorbidity and depressive symptoms in an Australian primary care cohort.

Jane M Gunn, Darshini R Ayton, Konstancja Densley, Julie F Pallant, Patty Chondros, Helen E Herrman, Christopher F Dowrick

Abstract readComparative Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Social psychiatry and psychiatric epidemiology, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 147 papers, 9 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
147citing papers in PubMed, 9 pooled it
8.0field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

147 citing papers in PubMed, 9 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 332 citations in OpenAlex.

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  3. Prevention of depression in adults with long-term physical conditions.The Cochrane database of systematic reviews · 2021
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  9. Multimorbidity in primary care: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2012
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  10. Effect of the OPTIMAL programme on self-management of multimorbidity in primary care: a randomised controlled trial.The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners · 2021
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87 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Jane M GunnGeneral Practice and Primary Health Care Academic Centre, The University of Melbourne, 200 Berkeley Street, Carlton, VIC, 3053, Australia. j.gunn@unimelb.edu.au
Darshini R Ayton
Konstancja Densley
Julie F Pallant
Patty Chondros
Helen E Herrman
Christopher F Dowrick
University of Melbourne · AUOrygen Youth Health · AUUniversity of Liverpool · GB

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

purposeTo assess the link between multimorbidity, type of chronic physical health problems and depressive symptoms

methodThe study was a cross-sectional postal survey conducted in 30 General Practices in Victoria, Australia as part of the diamond longitudinal study. Participants included 7,620 primary care attendees; 66% were females; age range from 18 to 76 years (mean = 51 years SD = 14); 81% were born in Australia; 64% were married and 67% lived in an urban area. The main outcome measures include the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) and a study-specific self-report check list of 12 common chronic physical health problems.

resultsThe prevalence of probable depression increased with increasing number of chronic physical conditions (1 condition: 23%; 2 conditions: 27%; 3 conditions: 30%; 4 conditions: 31%; 5 or more conditions: 41%). Only 16% of those with no listed physical conditions recorded CES-D scores of 16 or above. Across the listed physical conditions the prevalence of 'probable depression' ranged from 24% for hypertension; 35% for emphysema; 35% for dermatitis to 36% for stroke. The dose-response relationship is reduced when functional limitations and self-rated health are taken into account, suggesting that these factors mediate the relationship.

conclusionsA clear dose-response relationship exists between the number of chronic physical problems and depressive symptoms. The relationship between multimorbidity and depression appears to be mediated via self-perceived health related quality of life. Primary care practitioners will identify more cases of depression if they focus on those with more than one chronic health problem, no matter what the problems may be, being especially aware in the group who rate their health as poor/fair.

Indexed as

AdolescentAdultAgedAntidepressive AgentsChronic DiseaseCohort StudiesComorbidityCross-Sectional StudiesDepressionDermatitisEmphysemaFemaleHumansHypertensionMaleMiddle AgedAntidepressive Agents

Identifiers

PMID21184214
OpenAlexW2144083548

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.