Depression Can Lead to Other Health Problems

Depression is the most common form of mental illness. The disorder is often characterized loss of pleasure in normal activities, a depressed felling for most of the day, appetite or weight disturbance, sleep disturbances, abnormal fatigue or loss of energy, abnormal self-reproach, abnormal morbid thoughts of death, that are not due to a physiological condition, a mood incongruent psychosis, normal bereavement, and the person being diagnosed with depression must never have experienced a manic episode. For a diagnosis of clinical depression to be made, five of the positive symptoms must be present while none of the according to www.mentalhealth.com

It is no surprise that depression leads to poor health. A study conducted by the World Health Organization shows that not only does depression lead to poor health, but the condition can be more disabling than angina, arthritis, asthma and diabetes. Adding to the problem is that depression tends to affect people with chronic conditions worse than those who just suffer from depression alone.

A study that included more than 245,000 participants asked the people taking part questions about their health, how well they sleep, how much pain they have and whether or not they suffer from problems involving memory or concentration. When other factors such as poverty and other physical ailments found that depression lead to the worst health conditions among the participants.

The fact that depression leads to poor health is not new, but the study conducted by the World Health Organization was surprised to find that in many cases it is not recognized or treated. Once depression has been recognized and diagnosed by a mental health professional, it is fairly easy as mental illnesses go to treat.

The chief problem with the treatment is getting people to recognize the condition when it starts, depression in some circumstances, such as the death of a loved one is normal, but if it continues for too long it can become chemical and may cause the sufferer to be on antidepressants for the rest of their life. If left untreated however, depression leads to health problems in a physical manner and can complicate other chronic illnesses. Zoloft, Paxil, Prozac are all common prescription medications that can improve mood and St. John's Wort often works for those who prefer a more natural remedy. Talk therapy will often be used in conjunction with drugs as part of a treatment regimen.