A coordinated study by researchers at several universities in the United Kingdom and Finland reveals that having depression can take a health toll on multiple fronts, and that healthcare providers need to consider a holistic approach that treats depression as a way to help prevent and treat other bodily diseases.
The study found that people with depression have a 1.5 times greater risk of developing 29 health conditions, and that it is a common risk factor in the development of several physical health issues requiring hospitalization, including diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular disease, that frequently lead to hospitalization. The study pointed out that the most common causes of hospitalization in people with depression were endocrine, musculoskeletal, and vascular diseases — not psychiatric disorders.
The new study evaluated the health data of over 130,000 people in the United Kingdom and over 100,000 in Finland to determine if and how depression was associated with comorbid illnesses that commonly require hospitalization. The results suggest that depression may be an effective target for the prevention of physical and mental health issues that can lead to hospitalization.
While the data clearly shows that depression has a dramatic effect on the whole body and that its effect can cause significant physical health issues, what is less clear is why this is so. Researchers surmise that this is likely due to a mix of factors, including genetics, systemic inflammation, and dysfunctional neurotransmitters. For example, inflammation has been found to contribute to a wide range of health conditions, including depression, obesity, and diabetes.
Depression may also worsen pre-existing health issues, including in people with diabetes and heart disease, and make it difficult to follow doctor’s advice, take medications, or engage in regular exercise, as well as to maintain supportive relationships that are vital to taking care of chronic conditions.
The study finds that not only does depression lead to more health conditions, but also having these conditions may increase the risk of developing depression. For example, being diagnosed with cancer, a heart attack, or a neurological disease like epilepsy can contribute to depression, creating a vicious circle where your mood and physical health are negatively impacting your entire quality of life.
The researchers suggest that early diagnosis and prompt treatment of depression may help prevent the development and exacerbation of other physical health problems, and that healthcare providers should increasingly focus on treating depression in an effort to improve overall health.
Though there is much more clarity needed on the root causes of physical and mental health conditions, what is clear is that both are closely intertwined and should be treated comprehensively by integrating healthcare provided by primary care physicians, medical specialists, and mental health providers.
Treating comorbid depression and anxiety and even substance abuse in a collaborative relationship with mental health providers helps with not only improving mental health symptoms but also physical health.