Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41521790›Full record

ArticleCNS spectrums2026

The role of the duration of untreated illness (DUI) in generalized anxiety disorder: a cross-sectional, multicenter study.

Letizia Maria Affaticati, Elisa Giglio, Enrico Capuzzi, Irene Riva, Davide La Tegola, Fabrizia Colmegna, Massimo Clerici, Massimiliano Buoli

Abstract readMulticenter Study
In one paragraph

Article in CNS spectrums, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

8 authors.

Letizia Maria AffaticatiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, https://ror.org/01ynf4891University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.ORCID 0009-0000-8464-1080
Elisa GiglioDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, https://ror.org/01ynf4891University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
Enrico CapuzziMental Health, https://ror.org/01xf83457Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Italy.ORCID 0000-0001-8350-499X
Irene RivaDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, https://ror.org/01ynf4891University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
Davide La TegolaMental Health, https://ror.org/01xf83457Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Italy.
Fabrizia ColmegnaMental Health, https://ror.org/01xf83457Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo dei Tintori, Italy.
Massimo ClericiDepartment of Medicine and Surgery, https://ror.org/01ynf4891University of Milano-Bicocca, Italy.
Massimiliano Buolihttps://ror.org/00wjc7c48Universita degli Studi di Milano, Italy.ORCID 0000-0003-3359-3191

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveA longer duration of untreated illness (DUI) has been associated with poorer outcomes across several mental disorders; however, few studies have investigated DUI in anxiety disorders, particularly in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). This study aimed to identify sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with a longer DUI in GAD.

methodsWe conducted a cross-sectional, multicenter study, retrospectively reviewing the medical records of GAD patients from three mental health services. Sociodemographic and clinical variables were extracted for analysis. One-way analyses of variance and Pearson's correlations were used to examine the relationship between DUI and categorical and quantitative variables, respectively. A multivariate linear regression model was then conducted to identify variables independently associated with DUI.

resultsThe total sample included 243 patients; the mean DUI was 30.92 (±65.25) months. In the final model, a longer DUI was associated with an earlier age at onset (

conclusionsOur findings suggest that reducing the time between the onset of GAD and the initiation of appropriate pharmacological treatment may improve clinical outcomes, mitigating the risk of a chronic course of illness. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of DUI as a prognostic factor in GAD.

Indexed as

Anxiety DisordersAdultAge of OnsetCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleGeneralized Anxiety DisorderHumansMaleMiddle AgedRetrospective StudiesTime FactorsDuration of untreated illnessGADgeneralized anxiety disorderoutcome

Identifiers

PMID41521790
PMCPMC13064758

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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.