Anxiety Disorders: Nandi A

Nandi A, Beard JR, Galea S. · Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, USA. · BMC Psychiatry. · Pubmed #19486530 links to  free full text

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Clinical evidence has long suggested there may be heterogeneity in the patterns and predictors of common mood and anxiety disorders; however, epidemiologic studies have generally treated these outcomes as homogenous entities. The objective of this study was to systematically review the epidemiologic evidence for potential patterns of heterogeneity of common mood and anxiety disorders over the lifecourse in the general population. METHODS: We reviewed epidemiologic studies examining heterogeneity in either the nature of symptoms experienced ("symptom syndromes") or in patterns of symptoms over time ("symptom trajectories"). To be included, studies of syndromes were required to identify distinct symptom subtypes, and studies of trajectories were required to identify distinct longitudinal patterns of symptoms in at least three waves of follow-up. Studies based on clinical or patient populations were excluded. RESULTS: While research in this field is in its infancy, we found growing evidence that, not only can mood and anxiety disorders be differentiated by symptom syndromes and trajectories, but that the factors associated with these disorders may vary between these subtypes. Whether this reflects a causal pathway, where genetic or environmental factors influence the nature of the symptom or trajectory subtype experienced by an individual, or whether individuals with different subtypes differed in their susceptibility to different environmental factors, could not be determined. Few studies addressed issues of comorbidity or transitions in symptoms between common disorders. CONCLUSION: Understanding the diversity of these conditions may help us identify preventable factors that are only associated with some subtypes of these common disorders.

Neria Y, Nandi A, Galea S. · Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. · Psychol Med. · Pubmed #17803838 No free full text.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Disasters are traumatic events that may result in a wide range of mental and physical health consequences. Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is probably the most commonly studied post-disaster psychiatric disorder. This review aimed to systematically assess the evidence about PTSD following exposure to disasters.MethodA systematic search was performed. Eligible studies for this review included reports based on the DSM criteria of PTSD symptoms. The time-frame for inclusion of reports in this review is from 1980 (when PTSD was first introduced in DSM-III) and February 2007 when the literature search for this examination was terminated. RESULTS: We identified 284 reports of PTSD following disasters published in peer-reviewed journals since 1980. We categorized them according to the following classification: (1) human-made disasters (n=90), (2) technological disasters (n=65), and (3) natural disasters (n=116). Since some studies reported on findings from mixed samples (e.g. survivors of flooding and chemical contamination) we grouped these studies together (n=13). CONCLUSIONS: The body of research conducted after disasters in the past three decades suggests that the burden of PTSD among persons exposed to disasters is substantial. Post-disaster PTSD is associated with a range of correlates including sociodemographic and background factors, event exposure characteristics, social support factors and personality traits. Relatively few studies have employed longitudinal assessments enabling documentation of the course of PTSD. Methodological limitations and future directions for research in this field are discussed.

Galea S, Nandi A, Vlahov D. · Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA. · Epidemiol Rev. · Pubmed #15958429 links to  free full text

This publication has no abstract.

Wong DF, Brasić JR, Singer HS, Schretlen DJ, Kuwabara H, Zhou Y, Nandi A, Maris MA, Alexander M, Ye W, Rousset O, Kumar A, Szabo Z, Gjedde A, Grace AA. · Division of Nuclear Medicine, Russell H Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. · Neuropsychopharmacology. · Pubmed #17987065 links to  free full text

Abstract: Tourette syndrome (TS) is a neuropsychiatric disorder with childhood onset characterized by motor and phonic tics. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is often concomitant with TS. Dysfunctional tonic and phasic dopamine (DA) and serotonin (5-HT) metabolism may play a role in the pathophysiology of TS. We simultaneously measured the density, affinity, and brain distribution of dopamine D2 receptors (D2-R's), dopamine transporter binding potential (BP), and amphetamine-induced dopamine release (DA(rel)) in 14 adults with TS and 10 normal adult controls. We also measured the brain distribution and BP of serotonin 5-HT2A receptors (5-HT2AR), and serotonin transporter (SERT) BP, in 11 subjects with TS and 10 normal control subjects. As compared with controls, DA rel was significantly increased in the ventral striatum among subjects with TS. Adults with TS+OCD exhibited a significant D(2)-R increase in left ventral striatum. SERT BP in midbrain and caudate/putamen was significantly increased in adults with TS (TS+OCD and TS-OCD). In three subjects with TS+OCD, in whom D2-R, 5-HT2AR, and SERT were measured within a 12-month period, there was a weakly significant elevation of DA rel and 5-HT2A BP, when compared with TS-OCD subjects and normal controls. The current study confirms, with a larger sample size and higher resolution PET scanning, our earlier report that elevated DA rel is a primary defect in TS. The finding of decreased SERT BP, and the possible elevation in 5-HT2AR in individuals with TS who had increased DA rel, suggest a condition of increased phasic DA rel modulated by low 5-HT in concomitant OCD.

Nandi A, Galea S, Ahern J, Vlahov D. · Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, USA. · Psychiatry. · Pubmed #16599397 No free full text.

Abstract: Disaster exposure may exacerbate psychopathology and substance-related disorders. Four months after September 11, 2001, using random-digit dialing to contact a representative sample of adults (N = 2001) living in New York City, we assessed cigarette smoking and symptoms of probable cigarette dependence using measures from the National Survey on Drug Use and Health. A total of 36.8% of smokers reported increased cigarette use; 10.4% of respondents reported three or more symptoms of cigarette dependence and were considered cases of probable cigarette dependence based on DSM-IV criteria. Cases were more likely to report an increase in cigarette use since September 11 than non-cases (69.4% among cases vs. 2.2% among non-cases, p < 0.001). Cases were more likely to have probable posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression than non-cases (18.1% vs. 5.7% for PTSD, p < 0.001; 23.6% vs. 6.0% for depression, p < 0.001). Increased cigarette use since September 11 was associated with probable PTSD among cases (23.4% vs. 6.4%, p = 0.011) and non-cases (15.1% vs. 5.5%, p = 0.034) but was associated with probable depression only among cases of probable cigarette dependence (28.3% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.027). This study showed the co-occurrence of probable cigarette dependence with increased cigarette use and the co-occurrence of probable cigarette dependence with probable PTSD and depression after September 11.

Galea S, Nandi A, Stuber J, Gold J, Acierno R, Best CL, Bucuvalas M, Rudenstine S, Boscarino JA, Resnick H. · Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, New York, USA. · J Trauma Stress. · Pubmed #16281243 No free full text.

Abstract: There remains concern that survey research after a disaster can precipitate or exacerbate distress among study participants. The authors surveyed 5,774 persons in three random-digit-dial telephone surveys of the general population of New York City conducted 1-2 months, 4-5 months, and 6-9 months after the terrorist attack on September 11, 2001. Overall, 746 (12.9%) people who finished the surveys said that the survey questions were upsetting but only 57 (1.0% overall) were still upset at the end of the interview, and 19 (0.3%) wanted assistance from a counselor. Ten persons who did not finish the survey also received counselor assistance. Persons with mental health symptoms were more likely to find the survey questions emotionally upsetting as were participants who lacked salutary resources, including health insurance and a regular health care provider. Although relatively few of those interviewed found the survey assessment disturbing, the presence of a small number of respondents who wanted mental health assistance suggests the need for a mental health backup system for research conducted soon after exposure to large-scale traumatic events.

Nandi A, Galea S, Tracy M, Ahern J, Resnick H, Gershon R, Vlahov D. · Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, New York, NY 10029-5283, USA. · J Occup Environ Med. · Pubmed #15602180 No free full text.

Abstract: The influence of unemployment and adverse work conditions on the course of psychopathology after a mass disaster is unclear. We recruited a representative sample of adults living in the New York City metropolitan area six months after the September 11 attacks and completed follow-up interviews on 71% of the baseline sample six months later (N = 1939). At follow-up, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) persisted in 42.7% of the 149 cases with PTSD at baseline. In multivariable models, unemployment at any time since baseline predicted PTSD persistence in the entire cohort (P = 0.02) and among persons employed at follow-up (P = 0.02). High levels of perceived work stress predicted PTSD persistence among persons employed at follow-up (P = 0.02). Persons unemployed in the aftermath of a disaster may be at risk for poor mental health in the long-term.