Depression, drugs and somatic diseases
EBM Guidelines
Jun 23, 2021 • Latest change Jun 11, 2020
Table of contents
Extract
- Depression is a common disorder related to other psychiatric and somatic diseases, and it often complicates the diagnosis and treatment.
- According to various studies 20–60% of patients with general medical conditions have symptoms of depression and 15–45% fulfil the criteria of a mood disorder.
- Remember somatic diseases that may cause depression (table Examples of medical conditions, drugs and psychoactive substances that may cause mood disorders1).
- Rule out possible drugs and narcotic substances that may cause mood disorders (table Examples of medical conditions, drugs and psychoactive substances that may cause mood disorders1).
- The role of somatic differential diagnosis is especially emphasized:
- in elderly patients with no previous mood disorders
- in patients with atypical symptoms of depression
- in patients who do not benefit from traditional treatment of depression
- In a patient with somatic disease it is not always easy to differentiate the somatic symptoms from those of depression.
- A somatic disease may contribute to the development of depression both through a direct physiological and an indirect psychological reaction formation.
- The potential interactions with the medications used for somatic diseases should be taken into account when starting drug treatment for depression.
Search terms
Depression, F32*, Internal medicine, Neurology, Pharmaceutical Preparations, Psychiatry, drug, somatic disease