Following myocardial infarction, 45% of patients met criteria for depression initially, and 33% remained depressed at 3 to 4 months, with major depression often persisting and delaying return to work.
Cohort (n=283)
Yes
What is the prevalence and course of depression in patients following myocardial infarction?
Depression is highly prevalent following myocardial infarction, with major depression often persisting at 3 to 4 months and impairing return to work.
• Two hundred eighty-three patients admitted to cardiac care units for myocardial infarction at two urban teaching hospitals were interviewed 8 to 10 days after infarction and 171 were reinterviewed 3 to 4 months later. Initially, 45% met diagnostic criteria for minor or major depression, including 18% with major depressive syndromes. Depression was not associated with the severity of cardiac illness but was associated with the presence of noncardiac medical illnesses. Three to 4 months after infarction, 33% of patients met criteria for minor or major depression. The large majority of patients who initially met criteria for major but not minor depression showed evidence of depression at 3 months and most patients with major depression had not returned to work by 3 months. Treatment of major depressive syndromes after myocardial infarction may reduce chronicity and disability, while minor depressive syndromes may be similar to normal grief and tend to be self-limited. (Arch Intern Med. 1989;149:1785-1789)
S. Schleifer (Tue,) conducted a cohort in myocardial infarction (n=283). Myocardial infarction was evaluated on Minor or major depression. Following myocardial infarction, 45% of patients met criteria for depression initially, and 33% remained depressed at 3 to 4 months, with major depression often persisting and delaying return to work.
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