In brief: Screening patients with heart disease for depression

In brief

Screening patients with heart disease for depression

Published: January, 2009

In September 2008, the American Heart Association (AHA) recommended that clinicians routinely screen patients with heart disease for depression. Among other reasons, the experts noted that in a large survey, about 9% of patients with coronary artery disease suffered from major depression in a 12-month period, compared with about 5% of people who do not have a chronic medical illness. The American Psychiatric Association has endorsed the recommendations.

The AHA recommends that clinicians ask two questions when they see patients with heart disease:

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