Related Experiment Videos
Depression and illness behavior in a general hospital: a prevalence study
Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics
|January 1, 1982
Summary
High rates of depression were found in general hospital patients in Italy, with over half meeting depression criteria using a US-based scale. Depressed patients also exhibited heightened illness behaviors, regardless of hospital ward.
Area of Science:
- Psychiatry
- Psychosomatic Medicine
- Clinical Psychology
Background:
- Depression and illness behavior are significant concerns in general hospital settings.
- Understanding these conditions in non-psychiatric populations is crucial for effective patient care.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of depression and illness behavior among general hospital inpatients in Northern Italy.
- To examine the relationship between depression and specific illness behavior dimensions.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 325 inpatients across six hospital wards.
- Utilized validated Italian translations of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES-D) scale and the Illness Behavior Questionnaire (IBQ).
Main Results:
- Using a CES-D cut-off of 16, 58% of patients were classified as depressed; a more conservative cut-off of 23 identified 33.5%.
- Depressed patients reported significantly higher levels of hypochondriasis, disease conviction, dysphoria, and irritability on the IBQ (p < 0.001).
- No significant differences in depression or IBQ scores were observed across different hospital wards after adjusting for covariates.
Conclusions:
- General hospital inpatients exhibit high rates of depression and associated illness behaviors.
- Findings highlight the need for psychosomatic research and consultation-liaison psychiatry services within general hospitals.
- Sociodemographic factors did not significantly influence depression or illness behavior prevalence across wards.