@Depression and Disease on Shift.ms

Depression and Disease

In Canada, Bandelow and Michaelis (2015) found that depression occurs in 4.7% of the population annually and 11.3% suffer from depression over their lifetime. Depression is often comorbid with other disorders. Asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, even ischemic heart disease, diabetes and hypertension have been observed in people who have accessed health services for depression. The relationship between depression and the disorders noted above is not well understood, however, there is a recognition that depressed people are at greater risk of developing other chronic diseases or conditions and conversely, people with chronic diseases or conditions are more likely to develop depression (McRae, O’Donnell et al. 2016). To me it just makes sense that if you live with a chronic disease, particularly one which causes chronic pain, you will be depressed. What surprised me when I was researching this topic was that depression itself can cause disease. If you live with recurring depression, do you also live with a disease? What came first: the depression or the disease?

Incredibly interesting subject yet again Heidi I think this would be very hard to identify almost as much as the chicken/egg dichotomy. I was diagnosed a week before more 35th birthday but the neuro traced it back to at least 22 so who can tell. I have often been asked similar questions by other healthcare professionals when asked to explain MS and my background history ie how was I supposed to identify ms when in effect it was my normal? Same with depression there are different types and not always overt, distinguishable or identifiable to an individual. But most individuals will have mood changes ie women and premenstral tension and it makes sense that long term chronic illness would make those that manage them more aware of there impacts and other issues post diagnosis at least ie conscious & subconscious monitoring of ongoing health issues. Co morbidity of conditions is very common and ms depression in particular can be caused by the condition, it’s impacts biologically, physically and sociologically, the uncertainty of the condition and as side effects from the many medications &treatments. There is also a theorist within sociology that believes that an individual makes an opinion through communication/discourse ie dialogical communications if you then add in factors such as mood, environment, employment, marital status, finances, healthcare etc etc etc everyone’s views and experiences will be different. Incredibly interesting but impossible to quantify or to generalise but as ALWAYS very VALID!!!!!!! Thank you HEIDI - take care of you always 🍀✊💪👍