What is the prevalence of major depressive episodes in inpatients with coronary artery disease?
Major depressive episodes are highly prevalent (23%) among inpatients with coronary artery disease, highlighting the need for improved recognition, especially in those with severe medical illness or a family history of psychopathology.
Depression is more prevalent in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) than in the general elderly population. Although CAD patients with depression have higher mortality rates, depression is often not recognized and treated in these patients. We administered structured psychiatric diagnostic interviews to 99 inpatients with CAD and diagnosed 23% with a major depressive episode (MDE) by DSM-IV criteria. Severity of medical illness and family history of psychopathology were indicators for increased risk for MDE. These findings may facilitate the recognition of CAD patients at greater risk for MDE.
Gonzalez et al. (Mon,) studied this question.