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Association between anxiety but not depressive disorders and leukocyte telomere length after 2 years of follow-up in a population-based sample

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2012

P. W. Hoen ,
J. G. M. Rosmalen ,
R. A. Schoevers ,
J. Huzen ,
P. van der Harst  and
P. de Jonge
P. W. Hoen*
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
J. G. M. Rosmalen
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
R. A. Schoevers
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
J. Huzen
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
P. van der Harst
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
P. de Jonge
Affiliation:
Interdisciplinary Center Psychopathology and Emotion Regulation, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, The Netherlands
*
*Address for correspondence: P. W. Hoen, B.Sc., University Medical Center Groningen, Interdisciplinary Center for Psychiatric Epidemiology, CC72, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, The Netherlands. (Email: p.w.hoen@umcg.nl)
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Abstract

Background

Telomere length is considered an emerging marker of biological aging. Depression and anxiety are associated with excess mortality risk but the mechanisms remain obscure. Telomere length might be involved because it is associated with psychological distress and mortality. The aim of this study was to test whether anxiety and depressive disorders predict telomere length over time in a large population-based sample.

Method

All analyses were performed in a longitudinal study in a general population cohort of 974 participants. The Composite International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI) was used to measure the presence of anxiety and depressive disorders. Telomere length was measured using monochrome multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) at approximately 2 years of follow-up. We used linear multivariable regression models to evaluate the association between anxiety and depressive disorders and telomere length, adjusting for adverse life events, lifestyle factors, educational level and antidepressant use.

Results

The presence of anxiety disorders predicted shorter telomeres at follow-up (β = –0.073, t = –2.302, p = 0.022). This association was similar after controlling for adverse life events, lifestyle factors, educational level and antidepressant use (β = –0.077, t = –2.144, p = 0.032). No association was found between depressive disorders and shorter telomeres at follow-up (β = 0.010, t = 0.315, p = 0.753).

Conclusions

This study found that anxiety disorders predicted shorter telomere length at follow-up in a general population cohort. The association was not explained by adverse life events, lifestyle factors, educational level and antidepressant use. How anxiety disorders might lead to accelerated telomere shortening and whether this might be a mediator explaining the excess mortality risk associated with anxiety deserve further investigation.

Keywords

Anxiety disordersdepressive disorderslongitudinaltelomere length.
Type
Original Articles
Information
Psychological Medicine , Volume 43 , Issue 4 , April 2013 , pp. 689 - 697
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2012

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