After today's headline about the increase in suicide rates among teen girls, new research on the effects of depression on daily health status should come as no surprise.
In a study published in this week's Lancet, researchers examined the effects of depression on everyday health status for 245,404 people living in 60 countries in all regions of the world who participated in the World Health Organization's World Health Survey. They defined everyday health as encompassing several domains, including general health, vision, mobility, self care, pain/discomfort, sleep/energy, emotional processes, and thinking processes. In addition to studying the effect of depression on health status, the researchers also studied and compared the effects of four chronic health conditions on health status: angina, arthritis, asthma, and diabetes.
Several significant findings emerged from this research. First, people who had depression AND one of the four chronic health conditions had significantly worse daily health than people who had depression alone or one of the four conditions alone. Second, people who had angina, arthritis, asthma, or diabetes were significantly more likely to be depressed than people who did not have one of these conditions. Third, women had worse daily health than men. Finally, depression contributed to poor daily health more so than any of the other chronic health conditions. These findings were consistent even across different countries with different demographic characteristics.
This study demonstrates that depression continues to be a public health problem that needs greater attention not only in the United States, but around the world. Unfortunately, much of our lack of attention to this important health issue reflects the stigma associated with mental health problems in our society. If there is an upside to this research, it is that women with chronic health conditions should be aware they are at greater risk for developing depression. If you think you may have symptoms of depression, talk to your health care provider when you see her for your chronic health condition. She should be able to diagnose and treat your depression if necessary, or refer you to someone who can.
In a study published in this week's Lancet, researchers examined the effects of depression on everyday health status for 245,404 people living in 60 countries in all regions of the world who participated in the World Health Organization's World Health Survey. They defined everyday health as encompassing several domains, including general health, vision, mobility, self care, pain/discomfort, sleep/energy, emotional processes, and thinking processes. In addition to studying the effect of depression on health status, the researchers also studied and compared the effects of four chronic health conditions on health status: angina, arthritis, asthma, and diabetes.
Several significant findings emerged from this research. First, people who had depression AND one of the four chronic health conditions had significantly worse daily health than people who had depression alone or one of the four conditions alone. Second, people who had angina, arthritis, asthma, or diabetes were significantly more likely to be depressed than people who did not have one of these conditions. Third, women had worse daily health than men. Finally, depression contributed to poor daily health more so than any of the other chronic health conditions. These findings were consistent even across different countries with different demographic characteristics.
This study demonstrates that depression continues to be a public health problem that needs greater attention not only in the United States, but around the world. Unfortunately, much of our lack of attention to this important health issue reflects the stigma associated with mental health problems in our society. If there is an upside to this research, it is that women with chronic health conditions should be aware they are at greater risk for developing depression. If you think you may have symptoms of depression, talk to your health care provider when you see her for your chronic health condition. She should be able to diagnose and treat your depression if necessary, or refer you to someone who can.
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