Do unexplained symptoms predict anxiety or depression? Ten-year data from a practice-based research network

Background: Unexplained symptoms are associated with depression and anxiety. This association is largely based on cross-sectional research of symptoms experienced by patients but not of symptoms presented to the GP. Aim: To investigate whether unexplained symptoms as presented to the GP predict mental disorders. Design and setting: Cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis of data from a practice-based research network of GPs, the Transition Project, in the Netherlands. Method: All data about contacts between patients (n = 16 000) and GPs (n = 10) from 1997 to 2008 were used. The relation betw... Mehr ...