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Associations between IQ and common mental disorders: The 2000 British National Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 April 2020

S. Rajput ,
A. Hassiotis ,
M. Richards ,
S.L. Hatch  and
R. Stewart
S. Rajput
Affiliation:
King's College London (Institute of Psychiatry), De Crespigny Park, LondonSE5 8AF, United Kingdom
A. Hassiotis
Affiliation:
Royal Free and University College Medical School, 67-73, Riding House Street, LondonW1W 7EY, United Kingdom
M. Richards
Affiliation:
MRC Survey for Health and Development, 33, Bedford Place, LondonWC1B 5JU, United Kingdom
S.L. Hatch
Affiliation:
King's College London (Institute of Psychiatry), De Crespigny Park, LondonSE5 8AF, United Kingdom
R. Stewart*
Affiliation:
King's College London (Institute of Psychiatry), De Crespigny Park, LondonSE5 8AF, United Kingdom
*
*Corresponding author. Tel.: +020 7848 0136; fax: +020 7848 5450. E-mail address: [email protected] (R. Stewart).
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Abstract

Background

Associations have been described between lower IQ and serious mental illness. Associations between common mental disorders (CMDs) and IQ have received little research. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between verbal IQ and CMD symptoms and diagnoses, and to investigate the role of potential mediating and confounding factors.

Method

Data were analysed from a British national survey with an analysed sample of 8054 people aged 16–74 years. Associations between verbal IQ (NART) and mental symptoms/disorders (CIS-R) were analysed with covariates including education, social class, income, debt, problem drinking, life events, physical health and relationship quality.

Results

CMD was associated with lower IQ. This association was stronger for depressive disorder/symptoms than for generalised anxiety disorder/symptoms. The most important covariates were education, social class, income and relationship quality.

Conclusions

The association between lower IQ and CMD is partly accounted for by adverse social/socioeconomic conditions. Stronger associations for depression than anxiety may indicate an effect of IQ on the way mental distress is communicated.

Keywords

Common mental disordersAffective disordersDepressive disorderAnxiety disordersIntelligenceIQEpidemiologyCross-sectional survey
Type
Original article
Information
European Psychiatry , Volume 26 , Issue 6 , September 2011 , pp. 390 - 395
Copyright
Copyright © Elsevier Masson SAS 2011

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