[Prevalence of depressive disorders in consultation-liaison psychiatry]

Depressive disorders are more frequently seen in medically ill patients, especially in those who are hospitalized, than in the general population. The aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of this problem in Spanish hospitals, determining the prevalence of depressive disorders in hospitalized patients with medical illnesses, as well as the sociodemographic and medical-psychiatric characteristics related with the development of depression in these patients.

A transversal study was performed in 13 Spanish public hospitals with a sample of 1.003 patients selected from the list of patients registered in medical services at each hospital on November 6, 1995. Each patient was evaluated on psycho-social stress level as well as quality of life (Karnofsky scale). Following that, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was applied and all patients with a score >= 11 were evaluated by a psychiatrist. Data on psychiatric consultation of these patients were also recorded when conducted.

18.9% of patients hospitalized for medical illnesses showed depressive symptoms. The presence of depressive disorders was more often seen in women, patients unable to work, patients with psychiatric history, patients with previous psychopharmacological treatments, patients with high level of psychosocial stress and patients with a low quality of life. Psychiatric consultations were requested in just 13.7% of these patients.

A very high number of hospitalized patients require a psychiatric evaluation for depression, but this is not requested.