Depression and associated organic diseases: are there any specific depressive symptoms? Results from the dialogue-2 survey.

The objective of the survey was to compare depressive symptoms in depression with and without a concomitant organic disease. The results based on the HAD and CES-D scales showed that, compared to those with an isolated depression, the patients with an associated chronic organic disease have a higher score on two items on the HAD. Three variables on the CES-D scale also helped to differentiate the two groups of depressed patients. No significant difference was found between the two groups in terms of anxiety or cognitive symptoms, fatigue or feelings of disability. Our results do not indicate any symptom that is specific to a combination of depression and somatic diseases. Guilt and hostility showed a lower level in depression associated with a concomitant somatic disease than in isolated depression.