SELECTED ARTICLES FROM THE RECENT LITERATURE 2005 10/11/05 Asthma and depression Summary Background - Previous studies have suggested an increased frequency of clinical depression in asthmatics. However, it is not clear whether the presence of depression correlates with the severity of asthma in individual patients. Findings – Eisner et al of the Univ of California in San Francisco carried out an observational cohort study of 743 adults who had been hospitalized for asthma. They found that 18% of them had significant clinical depression as determined on a validated depression scale. Such depression was associated with greater asthma severity, poor physical status and quality of life. These individuals had made more frequent Emergency Dept visits and were hospitalized more frequently. Reference Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol 2005;94:566-74 Editor's Comments This finding may be of clinical importance. However, the authors did not determine whether the depression anteceded the worsening of asthma or occurred reactive to the clinical respiratory deterioration. Therefore, one cannot conclude that a "primary" depression plays a causal role in worsening asthma.   © Copyright 1997-2005 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology All rights reserved