Depressive symptoms in relation to physical functioning in pulmonary hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between depressive symptoms and physical functioning in pulmonary hypertension (PH) patients.


METHODS
Fifty-two patients diagnosed with precapillary or postcapillary PH completed self-report questionnaires of depressive symptoms and physical functioning. Cardiac catheterization reports of patients were reviewed for hemodynamic variables.


RESULTS
Physical functioning was significantly associated with depressive symptoms on bivariate analysis. On multivariate analysis, after controlling for demographic and hemodynamic variables, depressive symptoms accounted for 9% of variance in physical functioning.


CONCLUSIONS
The association of depressive symptoms with decreased physical functioning in PH patients indicates the need for longitudinal research regarding the possible effect of depression on disease outcomes in this population.
Looper
Karl J
KJ
Department of Psychiatry, Sir Mortimer B. Davis - Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3T 1E2. karl.looper@mcgill.ca
Pierre
Andrena
A
Dunkley
David M
DM
Sigal
John J
JJ
Langleben
David
D
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000523:psychology*; D000368:Aged; D006328:Cardiac Catheterization; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006976:Hypertension, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology*; D055809:Illness Behavior; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010555:Personality Inventory / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011594:Psychometrics