New research has found not only a significant association between psychiatric impairments and chronic diseases, but also that the odds of having a psychiatric disorder increase with the number of chronic illnesses affecting an individual.
The investigators analyzed 2009 California Health Interview Survey data from 39鈥�954 people with 1 or more of 4 chronic diseases鈥攖ype 2 diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or heart disease鈥攁s well as psychological distress and impairment (Piane GM and Smith TC. Prev Chronic Dis. [published online October 23, 2014]).