ABSTRACT
Depression all to frequently complicates physical illness, such comorbid depression may adversely affect the outcome .of the physical condition and, in turn is perpetuated by it.We therefore set out to determine the rate of depressive symptoms and disorders in a sample of 400 in patient with chronic physical illness at Al Zahraa university Hospital, their ages ranged from 40-70 years, both sexes were included. They were subjected to complete physical and neurological examinations and then they were subjected to General Health questionnaire, those who scored 7 [cutting point] at GHC were subjected to Beck's Depressive Inventory for depressive symptoms, those with depressive symptoms were subjected to psychiatric interview and diagnosis according to DSMIV classification
Results: 60% of the total sample had probable minor psychiatric morbidity at the GHQ, 78% had depressive symptoms, while only 42% mounting to depressive disorder, the majority of cases were rated as mild to moderate seventy. The peak age of depressive symptoms was the highest at the age of 50-60, as it reached up to 20%. It was found that depression was significantlyrelated to hypertension, ischemic heart disease, cerebro vascular stroke and liver failure. On the other hand it was insignificant statistically with diabetes mellitus, parkinsonism, oestoprosis, and chest disease.We concluded that depression is very common among patients with chronic physical illness, So we are in need for orientation of general practitioners as well as our colleagues in the different specialties to be able to detect depression as it is often treatable and potentially reversible