[Comorbidity in a sample of hospitalized depressed patients]

In a retrospective study of 133 in-patients with a major depressive disorder, we first described the associated psychiatric (axis I and axis II) or somatic diseases (axis III). Then, we described the patients and therapeutical practices related to comorbidity. The results of this study showed that comorbidity concerned 89% of the patients. The mean number of diagnosis was 2.5 per patient (sd = 0.88). 33% of subjects had an associated diagnosis on axis I; 57% of subjects had an associated diagnosis on axis II; 47% of subjects had an associated diagnosis on axis III. Number of drugs prescribed was positively correlated to age (p < 0.05) and hospitalization duration (p < 0.01). Comorbidity was significantly more frequent in men than in women (p < 0.05). There was a positive correlation between comorbidity and the number of psychotropic drugs prescribed (p < 0.05). Compared to other subjects, subjects with an associated personality disorder were younger (p < 0.01), received more psychotropic drugs (p < 0.05) and less somatotropic drugs (p < 0.02). Compared to other subjects, subjects with an associated somatic disorder were older (p < 0.01), received more drugs (p < 0.01), in particular somatic drugs (p < 0.001). Compared to other subjects, subjects with an associated suicide attempt were younger (p < 0.001). However, these results should be considered with care because the numerous methodological limitations of this study, in particular the lack of standardized interviews and the lack of power.