Association between somatic diseases and symptoms of depression and anxiety among Belgrade University students.

AIM To investigate the relationship between somatic health problems and comorbid condition of anxiety and depression. METHODS The cross-sectional study in a population of 2,000 students of the Belgrade University (four schools: Medicine, Geography, Economics, Electrical Engineering) during the period April - June 2010 was conducted. The students were randomly selected. The main instrument for data collection was a standardized epidemiological questionnaire, designed at the Institute of Epidemiology, School of Medicine in Belgrade. RESULTS According to the Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), correlation was found between the following somatic diseases and depression: diabetes (p=0.003), hypertension (p=0.007), heart disease (p=0.001), chronic bronchitis (p=0.033), neurological diseases (p=0.013), and gastric or duodenal ulcer (p=0.003). According to the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) a correlation was found between the following somatic diseases and anxiety: diabetes (p=0.020), hypertension (p less than 0.001), heart disease (p=0.000), chronic bronchitis (p=0.037), bronchial asthma (p=0.049), gastric or duodenal ulcer (p=0.003). CONCLUSION Depression and anxiety are common in persons with somatic diseases and have a significant association with physical health. This has considerable implications for somatic diseases management and clinical guidelines.