From depression to disability.

The deleterious impact of depression on quality of life as well as mortality through suicide and worsening medical comorbidity is well known. Impairment and disability associated with depression is significant and equal to that attributable to cardiovascular disease and greater than that due to other chronic physical disorders, such as hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis (Wells et al., 1989). Depression impacts not only the individual life of the patient but affects the health of society.