Final answer:
The differential diagnoses for a person feeling a lack of purpose post-heart attack are Major Depression and Adjustment Disorder. The American Heart Association recommends depression screening for heart disease patients as depression is a risk factor for poor heart disease outcomes. Multiple studies indicate a strong link between depression and heart disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
Possible Differential Diagnoses After a Heart Attack
The possible differential diagnoses for someone who sees no point of living after having a heart attack include Major Depression and Adjustment Disorder. It is well-established that there is a significant link between depression and heart disease. Research dating back to 1937 by Benjamin Malzberg shows a heightened death rate among patients with melancholia. Later studies corroborate that individuals with depression are at an increased risk for heart disease and related mortality.
Patients with heart disease often exhibit more depressive symptoms than the general population. These emotional states, including anxiety and hostility, independently predicted the onset of heart disease. The American Heart Association recognizes the importance of depression in cardiovascular diseases and recommends routine depression screening for all heart disease patients. Moreover, depression has been noted as a risk factor for an adverse prognosis among patients with acute coronary syndrome.
Matters such as broken heart syndrome also illustrate the physical manifestation of intense emotional stress leading to heart problems. Finally, Major Depressive Disorder is known to be a complex chronic illness with significant morbidity and mortality rates, and has been associated with an increased risk of developing unhealthy lifestyle choices that can predispose individuals to cardiovascular diseases.