title: Major depression and physical illness trajectories in heart failure and pulmonary disease.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine conjoint trajectories of depression-physical illness in elderly medical inpatients with heart failure and/or chronic pulmonary disease and major depression (MDD), and to identify baseline predictors of trajectory. Consecutive medically hospitalized patients over age 50 with heart failure and/or chronic pulmonary disease were screened for MDD using the Structured Clinical Interview for Depression. Patients were re-evaluated at 6, 12, 18, and 24 weeks. Four depression-physical illness conjoint trajectories were examined: depression better, illness better; depression better, illness same; depression same, illness better; and depression same, illness same. Baseline predictors of trajectory were examined. MDD was identified in 413 patients; 352 had at least one follow-up. By 6 weeks, 22.3% improved on both depression and illness and 38.1% improved on neither. By 24 weeks, 45.0% had improved on both and 24.8% on neither. Short-term baseline predictors of trajectory (6 weeks) differed from long-term (12-24 weeks); past psychiatric history, overall medical illness severity, and education were short-term predictors, whereas past psychiatric history, depression treatments, and physical functioning were long-term. Improvements in MDD and physical illness track closely together. Characteristics during baseline hospitalization predict outcome trajectory after discharge, and may be useful in understanding etiology and directing treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center and GRECC VA Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27710, USA. koenig@geri.duke.edu
authors.forename: Harold G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Koenig
authors.forename: Jeffrey L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Bercedes L
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000368:Aged; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015897:Comorbidity; D003865:Major Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006304:Health Status; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D008016:Life Change Events; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D012720:Severity of Illness Index