title: Depressive symptomatology and medical co-morbidity in a primary care clinic.
abstract: Most primary care patients exhibiting significant depressive symptomatology fail to meet DSM-III criteria for a major depressive disorder (MDD). Yet, such patients have substantial morbidity and dysfunction attributable to their affective syndrome. Since surprisingly little is known about this group's clinical characteristics, we studied 618 general medicine patients aged eighteen to sixty-four years. In this population, fifty-seven (9.2%) scored quite high when screened on the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (greater than or equal to 27) while not meeting MDD criteria on the Diagnostic Interview Schedule. Membership in the "depression symptoms only" (DSO) group was predicted by a logistic regression model including female gender, more severe medical illness, higher likelihood of operative procedures, and less frequent cardiovascular diagnoses. Our findings suggest that the DSO state is associated with substantial "medical" morbidity. Prospective studies of subclinical depression in the primary care setting are urged to clarify etiologic and treatment concerns.
authors.affiliation: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Coulehan
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Schulberg
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Janosky
authors.forename: V C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Arena
mesh_terms: D000275:Adjustment Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D000328:Adult; D000928:Antidepressive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010556:Personality Tests; D011320:Primary Health Care; D011602:Psychophysiologic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000523:psychology; D012803:Sick Role
chemical_list: D000928:Antidepressive Agents