OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the presence of demoralization and major depression in the setting of medical disease. METHOD: 807 consecutive outpatients recruited from different medical settings (gastroenterology, cardiology, endocrinology, and oncology) were assessed according to DSM-IV criteria and Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research, using semistructured research interviews. RESULTS: Demoralization was identified in 245 patients (30.4%), while major depression was present in 135 patients (16.7%). Even though there was a considerable overlap between the 2 diagnoses, 59 patients (43.7%) with major depression were not classified as demoralized, and 169 patients (69.0%) with demoralization did not satisfy the criteria for major depression. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a high prevalence of demoralization in the medically ill and the feasibility of a differentiation between demoralization and depression. Further research may determine whether demoralization, alone or in association with major depression, entails prognostic and clinical implications.
OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the presence of demoralization and major depression in the setting of medical disease. METHOD: 807 consecutive outpatients recruited from different medical settings (gastroenterology, cardiology, endocrinology, and oncology) were assessed according to DSM-IV criteria and Diagnostic Criteria for Psychosomatic Research, using semistructured research interviews. RESULTS: Demoralization was identified in 245 patients (30.4%), while major depression was present in 135 patients (16.7%). Even though there was a considerable overlap between the 2 diagnoses, 59 patients (43.7%) with major depression were not classified as demoralized, and 169 patients (69.0%) with demoralization did not satisfy the criteria for major depression. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest a high prevalence of demoralization in the medically ill and the feasibility of a differentiation between demoralization and depression. Further research may determine whether demoralization, alone or in association with major depression, entails prognostic and clinical implications.
Authors: Margarita Alegría; Norah Mulvaney-Day; Maria Torres; Antonio Polo; Zhun Cao; Glorisa Canino Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 2006-11-30 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Brian M Iacoviello; Lauren B Alloy; Lyn Y Abramson; Jimmy Y Choi; Julia E Morgan Journal: Depress Anxiety Date: 2013-03-11 Impact factor: 6.505
Authors: Brian B Koo; Christopher A Chow; Divya R Shah; Farhan H Khan; Brittani Steinberg; Danielle Derlein; Keerthana Nalamada; Kiran Sai Para; Vikramjeet M Kakade; Amar S Patel; John M de Figueiredo; Elan D Louis Journal: Neurology Date: 2018-04-04 Impact factor: 9.910