There is no clear consensus in the few studies to have explored the relationship between major mental health disorders and lung function. The present study examined the cross-sectional associations of generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) with lung function in a large study of male US veterans. Methods: Participants (N = 4256) were drawn from the Vietnam Experience Study. From military files, telephone interview, and a medical examination, anthropometric,

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... emographic, and health data were collected. One-year prevalence of GAD and MDD was determined using DSM-III criteria. Forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) was measured by spirometry. Results: In models that adjusted for age and height, both GAD, p < .001, and MDD, p = .004, were associated with lower FEV 1 . In models additionally adjusting for weight, place of service, ethnicity, marriage, smoking, alcohol consumption, income, education, and major illness, GAD was still associated with poorer lung function, p = .01, whereas MDD was not, p = .18. Conclusions: Depression has very much been the focus of studies on mental health and physical health status. The current findings suggest that future research should perhaps pay equal attention to GAD.