Psychiatry
Volume 5, Issue 3 , Pages 89-92, 1 March 2006

Depression in physical illness

  • Angharad Ruttley

      Affiliations

    • Angharad Ruttley is a Specialist Registrar on the Royal London and St Bartholemew's higher training rotation, London, UK. She qualified from St George's Hospital Medical School, London and completed her basic psychiatric training at St Mary's Hospital, London.
    • ,
  • Steven Reid

      Affiliations

    • Steven Reid is Consultant Liaison Psychiatrist at St Mary's Hospital, London and Honorary Senior Lecturer at Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine, London, UK. His main research interest is the aetiology, presentation and management of medically unexplained symptoms.

Abstract 

Symptoms of depression occur commonly in medical illness, yet it is not always clear at which point such symptoms merit clinical attention. There is a common misperception that all depression is an ‘understandable’ psychological reaction to a serious illness. This belief may result in patients being denied appropriate treatment. Depression in the physically ill has been shown to have a significant impact, with increased symptom burden, impaired functioning and reduced quality of life. Treatment may lead not only to an improvement in depressive symptoms but also improvement in somatic symptoms, functional abilities, and a reduction in healthcare costs.

Keywords:  psychological medicine , adjustment disorders , antidepressants , depression , diagnosis , heart disease , hepatitis C , medical illness , Parkinson's disease , prognosis , stroke

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PII: S1476-1793(06)70016-7

doi:10.1383/psyt.2006.5.3.89

Psychiatry
Volume 5, Issue 3 , Pages 89-92, 1 March 2006

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