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

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine whether the prevalenc e of current and past DSM-IV axis I psychiatric disorders is higher among p ersons with a history of exposure to organic solvents than among a demograp hically similar group of nonexposed control subjects. Methods: Thirty-eight solvent-exposed subjects and 39 nonexposed healthy control subjects were e valuated 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 contr ol subjects (10%). The most prevalent diagnosis in exposed subjects was wit hin 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 disorder s 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.