[Depression in cardiac patients undergoing rehabilitation--a study for investigating the correlations between depression and occupational groups].

The results of many studies show that physical recovery and social integration of cardiac patients are negatively influenced by a persistent depressive disorder. For this reason issues of occupational integration should be considered from this point of view, too. Correlations between various occupational groups and depression were investigated with 907 cardiac patients at the beginning and at the end of a follow-up treatment. The results were compared to those for 756 persons in corresponding age groups from the general population. We found that at the beginning of rehabilitation the depression values of the HADS did not show any significant differences between the various occupational groups, however, their values were significantly higher than those found in the general population. During rehabilitation the HADS values decreased significantly. At the end of rehabilitation, unskilled and semi-skilled workers had significantly higher depression values than skilled workers and persons in higher positions. Consequences for medical rehabilitation are discussed.