Negative illness perceptions are associated with new-onset depression following myocardial infarction

Dickens, Chris; McGowan, Linda; Percival, Carol; Tomenson, Barbara; Cotter, Lawrence; Heagerty, Anthony; Creed, Francis

doi:10.1016/j.genhosppsych.2008.04.003

« Previous Next »General Hospital Psychiatry
Volume 30, Issue 5 , Pages 414-420, September 2008

Negative illness perceptions are associated with new-onset depression following myocardial infarction

Chris Dickens, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, University Place, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +44 0161 276 5386; fax: +44 0161 273 2135.
Linda McGowan, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, University Place, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Carol Percival, Ph.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, University Place, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Barbara Tomenson, M.Sc.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, University Place, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Lawrence Cotter, M.D.
- Department of Cardiology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
Anthony Heagerty, M.D.
- Department of Cardiology, Manchester Royal Infirmary, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9WL, UK
Francis Creed, M.D.
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Manchester, University Place, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK

Received 11 March 2008; accepted 11 April 2008. published online 25 July 2008.

Abstract

Objective

To test the hypothesis that negative perceptions about heart disease at the time of the myocardial infarction (MI) were associated with the onset of new episodes of depression following MI.

Method

We recruited 269 subjects admitted following first MI and monitored their depression status over the subsequent 12 months. At baseline, we recorded demographic information, family and personal history of cardiac disease and severity of MI; subjective health beliefs were assessed using the Illness Perceptions Questionnaire (IPQ). We assessed depression at baseline, 6 and 12 months following MI using a standardised questionnaire, validated in this population against a semistructured research interview.

Results

In the days following MI, patients who subsequently developed depression were more likely to anticipate that their heart disease would last a long time (P=.012) and was unlikely to be cured (P=.038). Controlling for potential confounding variables, scores on the IPQ remained associated with subsequent depression (P = .036), with anticipation that heart disease would last a long time [odds ratio (OR)=2.7, P=.013] and that heart disease could be cured (OR=0.45, P=.048) showing strongest association.

Conclusions

Negative perceptions about heart disease in the days following admission to hospital with first MI are associated with the development of subsequent new episodes of depression.

Keywords: Illness perceptions, Depression, Myocardial Infarction