The challenge of comorbid disorders in patients with depression.
Depression is common in medically ill patients, and it presents a particular challenge to the primary care physician. Depression may exacerbate cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and irritable bowel syndrome. Also, it may cause a poorer prognosis of each of these disorders. It is therefore recommended that depression screening be incorporated into a treatment plan for all these conditions, because treatment of depressive symptoms will improve patient quality of life and the outcome of other comorbid illness.
Rosenthal
Murray H
MH
BMR HealthQuest, 3625 Ruffin Rd, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123-1841, USA. rosenthal@bmrhealthquest.com
D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003109:Colonic Diseases, Functional / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015897:Comorbidity; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors