Does depression or other history of mental illness mean a patient has impaired decision making capacity?

Patients with active mental illness including depression should have their decision making capacity evaluated carefully. They should not be presumed to be unable to make treatment decision. In several studies, patients voiced similar preferences for life-sustaining treatments when depressed as they did after treatment of their depression.

Depression and other mental disorders should prompt careful evaluation, which may often be helped by psychiatry consultation.

Patients with active mental illness including depression should have their decision making capacity evaluated carefully. They should not be presumed to be unable to make treatment decision. In several studies, patients voiced similar preferences for life-sustaining treatments when depressed as they did after treatment of their depression.

Depression and other mental disorders should prompt careful evaluation, which may often be helped by psychiatry consultation.