A pilot study in the screening of depression in post-myocardial infarction patients

In the United States, there is an estimated annual incidence of approximately 600,000 new and 320,000 recurring myocardial infarctions (MI). Within this patient population, there is often the evolution of depressive symptoms. Depression after an MI has been associated with unfavorable outcomes, recurrent cardiac events, and increased mortality. The American Heart Association (AHA), has recommended routine depression screenings, utilizing the PHQ-2 and PHQ-9. There is a 20% prevalence of depression within this patient population, that often goes unrecognized (Zuidersma, Ormel, Conradi, & De Jonge, 2012). The purpose of this pilot study was to implement the AHA recommendation and institute the PHQ-2 and the PHQ-9 depression screening in post-MI patients. The population was identified using a provider worksheet that is populated daily. The duration of the study was 8 weeks with a final sample size was 35 patients, with a total of 5 patients (14.3%) having positive depression screenings. Among those five patients with positive depression screenings, four were male and one female with a mean age of 75.6. Three of the participants screened positive for mild depression, one screened positive for moderate depression and one screened positive for moderate-severe depression. Three of the participants experienced a STEMI and two experience a NSTEMI. Further breakdown of demographic data included two male widowed patients, one male married patient, one single female patient and one male divorced patient. This pilot study supports the AHA recommendation for depression screenings in post-MI patients and will lend itself to an automatic electronic mental health referral for patients screening positive on the PHQ depression screening.DNPIncludes bibliographical reference