Mind and Body
Depression Screening for Heart Patients RecommendedA new statement from the American Heart Association emphasizes the need to screen heart patients for depression.
Depressed people with heart disease have at least twice the risk of a second cardiac event in the one to two years following a heart attack.
And more severe depression is associated with more severe second events. The statement is published in the current issue of the medical journal Circulation. Evaluation and Treatment, When NeededThe new recommendations, which are endorsed by the American Psychiatric Association, include:
"The statement was prompted by the growing body of evidence that shows a link between depression in cardiac patients and a poorer long-term outlook," says Erika Froelicher, Ph.D., of the University of California, San Francisco. Froelicher co-chaired the writing group that produced the statement. The statement, which was the first to specifically focus on depression and heart disease, is important because depression is a common problem in heart patients. One study found that 15 percent to 20 percent of hospitalized heart attack patients met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV) criteria for major depression. An even greater proportion of patients with heart disease showed more depressive symptoms than the general population, though they did not meet the diagnostic criteria for depression. Mental Health Linked to Healthy RecoveryDepressed heart patients are less likely to take their medicines as directed, improve their diets, exercise or attend cardiac rehabilitation sessions. "There is no direct evidence yet that treating depression improves coronary heart disease outcomes, but plenty of evidence shows that having depression worsens those outcomes," says writing group co-chair Judith H. Lichtman, Ph.D., of Yale University School of Medicine. "By understanding the prevalence of depression and learning more about the subgroups of heart patients at particular risk of depression, we can begin to understand the best ways to recognize and treat it," she says. For more information about depression or other health topics, visit www.uvahealth.com. Always consult your physician for more information. Online Resources(Our organization is not responsible for the content of Internet sites.) Circulation – Depression and Coronary Heart Disease |
December 2008Depression Screening for Heart Patients Recommended Evaluation and Treatment, When Needed Mental Health Linked to Healthy Recovery When to Seek a Mental Health Evaluation When to Seek a Mental Health EvaluationKnowing when to seek treatment for mental health disorders is important for parents and families. Families, spouses or friends are often the first to suspect that their loved one is challenged by feelings, behaviors or environmental conditions that cause them to act disruptive, rebellious or sad. This may include problems with relationships with friends or family members, work, sleeping, eating, substance abuse, emotional expression, coping, attentiveness and responsiveness. It is also important to know that people of different ages will exhibit different symptoms and behaviors. It is important for families who suspect a problem in one or more of these areas to seek treatment as soon as possible. The following are the most common symptoms of a potential problem:
Always consult your physician for more information. |