Depression and Hypertension

The study consisted of 1101 Caucasian, male outpatients, who were screened for depression and hypertension in order to test the hypothesis that there is a unique relationship between these two illnesses. Depression was assessed by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) while diastolic blood pressure (BP) was accepted as the index of hypertension. Medical records were reviewed to determine whether the patient's clinical diagnoses would have an effect on any relationship between depression and hypertension. It was found that there was no correlation between elevated scores on the Zung SDS and diastolic BP. The diagnosis of anxiety, however, was significantly associated both with depression and hypertension.