Universal Depression Screening Recommended for Heart Patients

Heart disease and depression are so commonly linked that all heart patients should be screened for depression, according to new American Heart Association recommendations.

The recommendations are based upon growing evidence suggesting that depression is common among heart patients and can worsen outcomes.

The recommendations include the administration of a two-item questionnaire, asking, "Over the past two weeks, how often have you been bothered by any of the following problems? (1) Little interest or pleasure in doing things. (2) Feeling down, depressed or hopeless."

If patients answer "yes" to either question, then a more comprehensive questionnaire is recommended, asking about feelings of hopelessness, changes in appetite or sleep, problems concentrating and suicidal thoughts.

Patients who score high on the second questionnaire should be referred to mental health professional, although doctors may also opt to refer patients who answer in the affirmative to either item on the two-item questionnaire.

If treatment is required, the authors state that Zoloft and Celexa are generally safe for heart patients.

The American Psychiatric Association has endorsed the new recommendations, which are published in the Oct. 21 issue of Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.