Antecedents of neurosis in a cohort of 30,344 twnvs in Sweden

We analyzed questionnaire survey responses in a cohort of 30,344 twins in Sweden, 280 of whom became inpatients due to neurosis within the subsequent 10 years. As a group, they dzgered substantially in their reported health profile from the survey responders who were not admitted for psychiatric treatment. When subclassified into anxiety, depressive, and other neuroses, these were indistinguishable from each other regarding self‐perceived health and personality traits. Women were more likely to be hospitalized for neurosis. These mental and social antecedents for both anxiety and depression are in keeping with the concept of a shared diathesis which is supported by neurophysiological, treatment and genetic epidemiological studies. Anxiety 1:175‐179 (1994/1995). © 1995 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.