Impact of mental disorders and chronic physical conditions in health-related quality of life among primary care patients: results from an epidemiological study.

PURPOSE

To estimate the comorbidity of mental disorders with chronic physical conditions and to assess their independent and combined effects on health-related quality of life (HRQOL).

METHODS

Face-to-face cross-sectional survey of adult attendants to public primary care (PC) centres from Catalonia (Spain). A total of 3,815 out of 5,402 selected patients provided data for this study. We report frequency of chronic physical conditions among participants with mental disorders and the contribution of each mental disorder and chronic physical condition to HRQOL.

RESULTS

Chronic pain is the most frequent condition among those with mental disorders (74.54%). The effect of chronic physical conditions on HRQOL is rather minor when compared to the effect of mental disorders (especially mood disorders). However, chronic pain plays an important role in HRQOL loss.

CONCLUSIONS

Mood disorders and chronic pain negatively affect HRQOL of PC patients. Especial efforts should be made to detect and treat mental disorders and chronic pain at this level.