RT Journal
A1 Grissom GR, Phillips RA
T1 Screening for depression: This is the heart of the matter
JF Archives of Internal Medicine
JO Archives of Internal Medicine
YR 2005
FD June 13
VO 165
IS 11
SP 1214
OP 1215
DO 10.1001/archinte.165.11.1214
UL http://dx.doi.org/10.1001/archinte.165.11.1214
AB 
Despite Hippocrates’ advice, few clinicians and researchers have suspected that psychological problems may be among the most important modifiable risk factors for medical morbidity and mortality. There is growing evidence that this could be the case. Many cardiac patients (30%-45%) experience clinically important depressive symptoms.1 The impact of depression on cardiac outcomes is at least as important as a history of myocardial infarction and left ventricular dysfunction.2 Depression is related to onset of cardiac disease; it is associated with higher medical costs; and it reduces patients’ quality of life and compliance with treatment.3- 5 The cardiovascular prognosis is linked to the severity of depressive symptoms6: risk increases along with symptom severity whether or not the patient meets diagnostic criteria for a depressive disorder.7