Age-Related Changes in Visceral Patterns Associated with Anxiety Disorders or Depression according to Traditional Chinese Medicine

Background: Since, to our knowledge, there is no report on age-related changes in the patterns associated with anxiety and mood disorders, a large-size case-control study was conducted. Methods: A total of 914 new cases were assessed at a psychosomatic clinic of a tertiary medical care center. The severity of visceral patterns was analyzed according to the main symptoms described and a comprehensive questionnaire. Patterns of the liver (three), heart (four), and kidney (one) as well as dual deficiency of the heart and spleen were assessed. Results: In females under 40 years of age, liver qi depression and phlegm fire harassing the heart were associated with generalized anxiety disorder. Liver fire flaming upward was associated with all forms of anxiety disorders in this group. Phlegm fire harassing the heart was associated with depression and all forms of mood disorders in females over 40 years of age, while it was inversely associated in males over 40 years of age. Conclusion: The order of the traditional Chinese patterns resulting in anxiety or mood disorders was consistent with the development of liver qi depression into liver fire flaming upward or phlegm fire harassing the heart according to the traditional Chinese theory. The patterns associated with depression and all forms of mood disorders vary according to age and sex.