Caroline P. Carney

Bio: Caroline P. Carney is an academic researcher from Indiana University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Population & Comorbidity. The author has an hindex of 20, co-authored 28 publications receiving 1523 citations. Previous affiliations of Caroline P. Carney include Regenstrief Institute & University of Iowa.

Medical comorbidity in women and men with schizophrenia: a population-based controlled study.

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Persons with persistent mental illness are at risk for failure to receive medical services. In order to deliver appropriate preventive and primary care for this population, it is important to determine which chronic medical conditions are most common.

Comorbidity profile of dementia patients in primary care: are they sicker?

Abstract: OBJECTIVES: To compare the medical comorbidity of older patients with and without dementia in primary care. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: Wishard Health Services, which includes a university-affiliated, urban public hospital and seven community-based primary care practice centers in Indianapolis. PARTICIPANTS: Three thousand thirteen patients aged 65 and older attending seven primary care centers in Indianapolis, Indiana. MEASUREMENTS: An expert panel diagnosed dementia using International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, criteria. Comorbidity was assessed using 10 physician-diagnosed chronic comorbid conditions and the Chronic Disease Score (CDS). RESULTS: Patients with dementia attending primary care have on average 2.4 chronic conditions and receive 5.1 medications. Approximately 50% of dementia patients in this setting are exposed to at least one anticholinergic medication, and 20% are prescribed at least one psychotropic medication. After adjusting for patients' age, race, and sex, patients with and without dementia have a similar level of comorbidity (mean number of chronic medical conditions, 2.4 vs 2.3, P=.66; average CDS, 5.8 vs 6.2, P=.83). CONCLUSION: Multiple medical comorbid conditions are common in older adults with and without dementia in primary care. Despite their cholinergic deficit, a substantial proportion of patients with dementia are exposed to anticholinergic medications. Models of care that incorporate this medical complexity are needed to improve the treatment of dementia in primary care.

Medical comorbidity in women and men with bipolar disorders: a population-based controlled study.

Abstract: OBJECTIVE Rarely has validated information on chronic medical comorbidity been presented for persons with bipolar disorder. To deliver appropriate health services, it is important to understand the prevalence of chronic medical conditions in this population. This study examines chronic medical comorbidity using validated methodology in persons with bipolar disorder. METHODS This is a retrospective study of a 100% sample of administrative claims (1996-2001) from Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield. Three thousand five hundred fifty-seven subjects had bipolar I disorder and did not have claims for schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. Controls had no documented claims for psychiatric conditions. Using validated methodology, inpatient and outpatient claims were used to determine prevalence of 44 chronic medical conditions. Odds ratios (ORs) were adjusted for age, gender, residence, and nonmental healthcare utilization. RESULTS Persons with bipolar disorder were young (mean age, 38.8 years) and significantly more likely to have medical comorbidity, including three or more chronic conditions (41% versus 12%, p < .001) compared with controls. Elevated ORs were found for conditions spanning all organ systems. Hyperlipidemia, lymphoma, and metastatic cancer were the only conditions less likely to occur in persons with bipolar disorder. CONCLUSION Bipolar disorders are associated with substantial chronic medical burden. Familiarity with conditions affecting this population may assist in programs aimed at providing medical care for the chronically mentally ill.

The influence of type and severity of mental illness on receipt of screening mammography

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Women with mental illness may be at risk for failure to receive recommended preventive services such as mammography. Little is known about whether the type or severity of mental illness influences receipt of preventive services. OBJECTIVE: To measure the influence of type and severity of mental illness on receipt of mammography. DESIGN: Retrospective study of administrative claims data, 1996 to 2001. SUBJECTS: Privately insured women age 40 to 64 years, with and without claims for mental illness, and who were eligible for mammography between 1996 and 2001. MEASUREMENT: Odds ratios (OR) for receipt of screening mammography, any mammography, and follow-up mammography, adjusted for age, rural location, utilization of nonmental health services, and severity and type of the mental disorder. Severity measures were based on utilization of outpatient and inpatient mental health services and presence of comorbid substance use disorder. RESULTS: Women with any mental disorder were significantly less likely to receive mammography than controls. This was strongly influenced by severity of mental illness (any mammography: moderate severity OR 0.62; confidence interval [CI] 0.59 to 0.66: high severity OR 0.38; CI 0.33 to 0.43). Whereas severity contributed to lower receipt of mammography among women with mood and anxiety disorders, women with psychotic, alcohol, and substance abuse disorders had decreased odds for receipt of mammography regardless of severity. CONCLUSIONS: Women with mental disorders are at risk for failure to receive mammography, a recommended preventive service. Women with severe mental illness or psychotic and substance abuse disorders should be targeted to ensure delivery of mammography.

Relationship between depression and pancreatic cancer in the general population.

Abstract: Objective Prior research suggesting a relationship between pancreatic cancer and depression conducted on clinical populations has been subject to recall bias. We reexamined this association using longitudinal population-based data. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study using longitudinal insurance claims data. Results Men with mental disorders were more likely to develop pancreatic cancer than those without psychiatric claims (odds ratio 2.4, confidence interval 1.15-4.78). Depression more commonly preceded pancreatic cancer than it did other gastrointestinal malignancies (odds ratio 4.6, confidence interval 1.07-19.4) or all other cancers (odds ratio 4.1, confidence interval 1.05-16.0). Conclusions Depression and pancreatic cancer are associated in the general population.

Faking it: Social desirability response bias in self-report research

Abstract: Objective: The tendency for people to present a favourable image of themselves on questionnaires is called socially desirable responding (SDR). SDR confounds research results by creating false rela...

The gap in life expectancy from preventable physical illness in psychiatric patients in Western Australia: Retrospective analysis of population based registers

Abstract: Objective To examine the mortality experience of psychiatric patients in Western Australia compared with the general population. Design Population based study. Setting Western Australia, 1985-2005. Participants Psychiatric patients (292 585) registered with mental health services in Western Australia. Main outcome measures Trends in life expectancy for psychiatric patients compared with the Western Australian population and causes of excess mortality, including physical health conditions and unnatural causes of death. Results When using active prevalence of disorder (contact with services in previous five years), the life expectancy gap increased from 13.5 to 15.9 years for males and from 10.4 to 12.0 years for females between 1985 and 2005. Additionally, 77.7% of excess deaths were attributed to physical health conditions, including cardiovascular disease (29.9%) and cancer (13.5%). Suicide was the cause of 13.9% of excess deaths. Conclusions Despite knowledge about excess mortality in people with mental illness, the gap in their life expectancy compared with the general population has widened since 1985. With most excess deaths being due to physical health conditions, public efforts should be directed towards improving physical health to reduce mortality in people with mental illness, in addition to ongoing efforts to prevent suicide.