Physical illness and depression: the effects of acute physical illness on the mental state of psychiatric inpatients

A patient is described with a severe agitated depression who made a dramatic recovery following an acute myocardial infarction. A retrospective case notes study was conducted to investigate the effects of a sudden physical illness on the mental state of a group of psychiatric inpatients. Seven patients were identified with agitated depression who improved considerably following an acute life-threatening physical event. Patients with other forms of depression, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder showed either no change or underwent a deterioration in mental state.