Depression screening and treatment recall in male and female coronary artery disease inpatients: Association with symptoms one year later.

BACKGROUND: This study examined whether cardiac inpatients recall depression screening and how it is related to depressive symptoms and treatment one year later.

METHODS: 2635 cardiac inpatients from 11 hospitals completed a survey and were mailed a follow-up survey one year later; both surveys included the BDI-II.

RESULTS: Of the 1809 (68.7%) retained participants, 513 (30.0%) recalled depression screening. Recall was not significantly related to depressive symptoms at either time point (P > 0.05). Participants who were recommended antidepressants had higher BDI-II scores than those who were not, both as inpatients (P < 0.01) and one year later (P < 0.05). There was no significant change in depressive symptoms over time in patients who received any type of therapy.

CONCLUSION: Less than one-third of cardiac inpatients recalled being screened for depression. Recall of screening was not significantly related to depressive symptoms, and use of treatment was related to greater symptoms.