Introduction: We sought to examine the prevalence, clinical characteristics and one-year outcome of Mixed Anxiety-Depressive Disorder (MADD) in a clinical sample.
Methods: We interviewed 400 psychiatric outpatients, diagnosing MADD with DSM-IV research criteria.
Results: Forty-two patients (10.5%) were diagnosed of MADD. Two-thirds were females, 50% had chronic medical conditions, 47.6% reported environmental problems, and the mean GAF was 54.4. At follow-up, MADD proved to be a stable diagnosis. Two subgroups emerged according to illness duration, with a chronic subtype (more than six months' duration) significantly different in the variable 12-month full remission.
Conclusions: MADD, an often disabling disorder, appears to be a frequent and stable diagnosis. We further suggest the existence of a distinct chronic subtype.