Psychosomatics
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The purpose of this study was to determine the threshold at which depression becomes important for the daily functioning of patients with heart disease. Data from a 1-year prospective cohort study of health maintenance organization patients undergoing coronary angiography for coronary heart disease were analyzed for differences in a standardized composite measure of functioning. ⋯ The major and minor depression groups did not differ significantly. The significance of the depression group differences was reduced, but not eliminated, when controlling for differences in reported heart symptoms.