ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MAJOR DEPRESSIVE DISORDER AND PHYSICAL ILLNESS

The association between major depressive disorder (MDD) and self-repor ted histories of specific physical illnesses was investigated in 320 c ontrols and 1968 first-degree relatives and 254 spouses of probands in the NIMH Collaborative Depression study. The Schedule for Affective D isorders and Schizophrenia-Lifetime Version was used to assign Researc h Diagnostic Criteria (RDC) diagnoses and a structured self-report ins trument was used to assess lifetime medical history. Lifetime MDD was diagnosed in 914 subjects, 402 of whom had been hospitalized or receiv ed somatic treatment ('treated' MDD). Strong associations were observe d between MDD (either treated or untreated) and both frequent/severe h eadaches and migraine headaches. There was a marked gender effect such that the relative odds for a woman with treated MDD to report migrain e were over 5:1. Other associations were found between MDD and skin in fections, respiratory illness, ulcer, hypotension, and diabetes. This is the largest non-patient sample using standardized assessment of men tal disorders by direct interview in which associations between specif ic physical illnesses and MDD have been demonstrated. Implications for clinical practice and neurobiological research in depression are disc ussed.