INTRODUCTION:

Hypertension and Depression are among the most common public health issues affecting population around the world. One of the mental health disorders commonly associated with any chronic medical condition is depression, and hypertension is no exception.

METHODOLOGY:

Eligible subjects in this cross sectional study were screened with MINI 6.0. HAM–D scale was administered for patients with a diagnosis of depression.

RESULTS:

58% were males and 42% were females. Mean age was 50.12 (SD= 5.43). Mean BMI was 25.030 (SD= 3.1184). Mean HAM–D score was 7.18 (SD= 5.189). Factors such as being female (x²= 4.059; p= 0.044), urban background (x²= 4.504; p= 0.034), education (x²= 35.294; p= 0.000), duration (x2= 7.712; p= 0.005) were associated with depression There was a negative correlation between age and HAM–D scores (r= –0.370, p= 0.008)

CONCLUSION:

Undiagnosed depression among patients with chronic medical illness like hypertension can be more common than one may think.