Clinical Impact of Depression in Cirrhosis

Abstract

Depression is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric illness. It is prevalent in most chronic medical conditions and is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Depression is especially common in patients with cirrhosis. In this review, we discuss the prevalence, risk factors, diagnosis, clinical impact, and treatment of depression in cirrhosis. We describe various screening tests important for diagnosis, the interaction of depression with hepatic encephalopathy, and its significant impact on medication adherence, mortality, and caregiver burden. These findings highlight the importance of appropriate screening, diagnosis, and treatment of depression in patients with cirrhosis.