Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) acts as an important risk factor for occurrence of depression, which affectS long term morbidity and mortality considering baseline health state in patients with AMI.To estimate frequency of depression among patients within first 3 weeks after occurrence of AMI and to evaluate the effect of different demographic factors, biochemical changes, type and site of M.I on its frequency. This is a cross sectional study that enrolled 116 patients with AMI who had been admitted to coronary care unite (CCU) at Al-Diwaniya Teaching Hospital during the period between 1st of July 2007-31st of October 2008. Only 80 patients were followed up the Diagnosis of depression was done according to criteria of structural clinical interview for diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder-4- revision (SCID-DSM-4-R).This study revealed that 22.5% of patients had post-AMI depression. The females constitute 88.89% of depressed group, ≥ 65year old age were 44.44%, patients with hypertension and hyperlipidemia were 66.67%, diabetic patients were 27.78% and patients had positive history of MI were 33.33%. Patients with ejection fraction (E.F) < 35%, renal failure or insufficiency, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and anterior MI were 22.22%. Patients with non ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI), peak creatine phosphokinase (CPK) ≥500 u/l and current smoker constitute 66.67%, 55.56% and 16.67% respectively. This study proves that depression after AMI was more common in females and less common in diabetic patients, current smokers and patients with COPD.
