MedwireNews—June 2, 2008
Most patients receive their asthma and mental healthcare from primary care physicians, making physician diagnoses critical for the treatment of both conditions, say the researchers.
In a cross-sectional analysis, they assessed patient- and physician-reported depressive conditions relating to asthma severity and control in 257 patients with mild-intermittent to moderate-persistent asthma.
Asthma severity referred to the long-term nature of asthma as a chronic illness, whereas asthma control referred to its short-term nature and potential to wax and wane.
Patient-reported depressive symptoms were determined using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS), report Carol Mancuso, Hospital for Special Surgery, New York, and colleagues in the journal Chest.
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