What is the psychological “distress” that increases the risk of death from common causes?

The study is part of the “MESES” (Mortality Surveys in Spanish Health Care) working group, led by Carlos III Institute of Health researcher Iñaki Galan.

For this study, 21,003 people were analyzed.

He disasterthe most negative and harmful form of stress, increases the risk of mortality from common causes, diseases cardiovascular diseases and even canceras confirmed by Spanish researchers after analyzing more 20,000 people in nine years.

Team of the National Center of Epidemiology Institute of Health Carlos III (ISCIII) studied the association between psychological distress and mortality among Spanish adults and published his findings in the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

Unlike other types of stress such as “eustress”, which is considered positive and motivating, “distress” is quite negative.

The study is part of the “MESES” (Mortality Survey in Spanish Health Care) working group, led by a researcher from the Institute of Public Health. Carlos III Iñaki Galan, which includes researchers Teresa Lopez-Cuadrado, the first signatory of the work, Cristina Ortiz and Ana Ayuso-Alvarez.

The study’s conclusion is that people with psychological distress have a greater risk of mortality from both common causes and other causes. cardiovascular diseases and various types of cancer, the research center said in a press release issued today.

The researchers observed that this association was higher among people who had not previously been diagnosed with a mental disorder, as well as among patients who were not taking prescribed medications for mental health problems.

For this study, 21,003 people were analyzed and followed for 9 years.

In particular, the risk of overall mortality among people with previously diagnosed psychological disorders mental disorder was 1.18 compared to 1.34 in people without the specified diagnosis, the institute explained.

According to these data, participants with psychological stress Those who took medications to treat mental disorders had a lower risk of mortality than those who did not take treatment.

Teresa Lopez-Cuadrado and Iñaki Galan noted that the findings of this work may have important public health implications because, despite the high prevalence of mental health problems, many people do not seek professional help in a timely manner and therefore may receive treatment too early or may not even receive it. getting it.

To conduct this study, data was used National Health Survey, coordinated by the Ministry of Health along with information from death records up to December 2020.