Increased incidence of anxiety and depressive disorders in persons with organic solvent exposure.

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the prevalence of current and past DSM-IV axis I psychiatric disorders is higher among persons with a history of exposure to organic solvents than among a demographically similar group of nonexposed control subjects.

METHODS

Thirty-eight solvent-exposed subjects and 39 nonexposed healthy control subjects were evaluated for axis I disorder with the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV.

RESULTS

A significantly higher number of solvent-exposed subjects (71%) met criteria for current DSM-IV axis I disorder in comparison with control subjects (10%). The most prevalent diagnosis in exposed subjects was within the anxiety and mood clusters, with a high percentage (36%) of exposed subjects meeting criteria for a dual diagnosis of mood and anxiety disorder. There were no differences between the groups in past psychiatric disorders or current or past substance abuse or dependence.

CONCLUSIONS

The rates of past psychiatric disorders among solvent-exposed subjects are similar to those among normal control subjects, but the prevalence of current DSM-IV axis I psychiatric disorders is significantly higher among exposed subjects than among control subjects.