Atlantis, E.Sullivan, T.2012-08-202012-08-202012General Hospital Psychiatry, 2012; 34(4):345-3510163-83431873-7714http://hdl.handle.net/2440/72644<h4>Objective</h4>The objective was to investigate changes in self-reported cardiovascular disease (CVD) burden associated with psychopathology for Australia from 2004 to 2008.<h4>Method</h4>Data analyzed were from 32,073 participants aged ≥25 years from the 2004-2005 or 2007-2008 National Health Surveys. Lifetime diagnosis of CVD (heart attack or stroke) was by self-report. Psychopathology was determined by the 10-item Kessler Psychological Distress Scale (using scores ≥30) and use of antidepressants or antianxiety (AD/AA) medications.<h4>Results</h4>The prevalence of CVD (4.1% to 4.5%, P=.045) had increased slightly from 2004 to 2008 for the general population, but not among those with psychopathology. On average, psychological distress only [odds ratio (OR) 2.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.52-2.62] and AD/AA medications with (OR 2.02; 1.41-2.88) and without psychological distress (OR 1.24; 1.00-1.55) were associated with increased odds of CVD over the 4-year period, independent of sociodemographic, lifestyle and chronic disease covariates. Both psychological distress only (OR 1.61; 1.15-2.25) and AD/AA medications with psychological distress (OR 1.62; 1.08-2.44) conferred higher odds of CVD than AD/AA medications without psychological distress.<h4>Conclusion</h4>In comparison to those without psychopathology, the odds of self-reported CVD were persistently higher among people with psychopathology from 2004 to 2008, particularly for psychological distress.en© 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Psychological distressDepressionAnxietyAntidepressantsTrendsJournal article002012088510.1016/j.genhosppsych.2012.02.0060003063027000042-s2.0-8486275339923757Atlantis, E. [0000-0001-5877-6141]Sullivan, T. [0000-0002-6930-5406]