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April 2008 – Volume 4, No. 2
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Depression in physical illness
presents challenges to the physicianby Fabien Gagnon, MD, DPsy, FRCPC
Editor-in-Chief
Identifying and caring for the patient with comorbid physical and mental illness is not an easy task. Clinical decisions are never routine in these types of cases, but physicians will need to step up their skills as this patient group gets bigger and bigger.
There is a clear link between mental and physical illness. The prevalence rates of depression in patients with cardiac disease is between 17 and 27 per cent, 26 per cent in patients with diabetes, and between 22 and 29 per cent in cancer patients.(1)
In this edition of Canadian Psychiatry Aujourd’hui, we talk to University of Montreal psychiatrist Dr. François Lespérance about advances in research and what this means for the clinical treatment of patients with mental illness and medical comorbidity. Dr. Lespérance is renowned for his own ground-breaking research into the connection between heart disease and depression.
We also hear from Dr. Dan Bilsker, a psychologist and researcher at the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addiction, on self-management tools for individuals dealing with mental health problems and chronic disease. His research has focused on innovative psychological interventions in primary care.
People with comorbid physical and mental illness have to negotiate a multitude of health care providers, support services and administrative hoops to get optimal care. We owe it to our patients to be better informed so we can assess, diagnose and offer the best treatment options available.
As always, we welcome your views and comments. Happy reading.
References
1. Mood Disorders Society of Canada (MDSC). Quick Facts: Mental Illness & Addiction in Canada. Guelph: MDSC, 2006.
© Copyright 2008. Canadian Psychiatry Aujourd’hui. All rights reserved.
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February 07, 2012
