Depression among patients with chronic physical illness

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