Cardiovascular disorders are recognized to be a standout among the most well-known reasons for death among people in the world. Depression is considered to be an autonomous risk factor like diabetes, smoking, hypertension etc., for the development of cardiovascular disease. Depression is also found to influence the recovery of people with coronary illness, and increases the chances of further heart problems. It is seen that patients with depression are more prone for a detrimental lifestyle (like diet high in calories and salt, smoking, lack of exercise etc.,) and they have poor drug compliance. Co morbidity poses a treatment challenge for Cardiology and Psychiatry. The intention of this study is to gain appropriate knowledge about the prevalence of depression among patients attending cardiology outpatient clinic. In the present study a hundred patients were selected consecutively from cardiology outpatient department and were evaluated for the presence of depression.

Keywords: Cardiac outpatients, Psychiatric morbidity, HAM-D.

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Dr R Vadivambal

Postgraduate, Department of Psychiatry, Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, Chidambaram, Tamilnadu