|
| |
Depression Versus Chronic Disease:
Functioning Over the Long Haul
Research has shown that individuals with depression experience limitations in
well-being and daily functioning equal to or greater than those seen in
individuals suffering from a chronic general medical condition. To answer the
question of whether these limitations persist over time, the authors conducted a
2-year observational study of 1,790 adult outpatients with 1 or more of 4
chronic diseases (depression, diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease).
Subjects were initially screened by medical or mental health care providers at
the time of an office visit. Two years after the initial screening, patients
completed a questionnaire examining the persistence of limitations in well-being
and functioning.
Impairments were observed at the time of the original office visit and at
follow-up. On many of the outcome measures, depressed patients improved over
time, but their limitations were still similar to or worse than those attributed
to chronic medical illnesses. Depressed patients seen by mental health care
providers tended to have more severe depression, although greater improvement
was seen overtime than for depressed patients treated in the medical sector.
These results indicate that depressed patients were as limited in physical
health and more limited in mental health outcomes than were patients with
chronic medical illnesses at follow-up. Because of the persistence and serious
ness of these functional decrements, this research highlights the importance of
routine screening for depression in both medical and mental health settings.
Hays. R. D. (RAND, 1700 Main St. Santa Monica. CA 90407-2138). Wells, K.B.,
Sherbourne, C. D., Rogers, W., & Spritzer, K. (1995). Functioning and well-being
outcomes of patients with depression compared with chronic general medical
illnesses. Archives of General Psychiatry, 52,11-19.
Wilmes-Reitz Psychological
23945 Calabasas Rd., Suite 202
Calabasas, California 91302
(818) 591-8270
wrpsych@aol.com
|
