Conditions Related to Depression

Depression is a psychiatric disorder marked by feelings of inadequacy, despondency and hopelessness. While those who are clinically depressed suffer from overwhelmingly pessimistic mental states, they also experience physical symptoms, such as general sluggishness, constipation and sexual dysfunction.
 
Some of the physical effects of depression result from the way in which a person's depressed outlook dictates his lifestyle choices. For instance, depressed people are usually less likely to take care of themselves by exercising, eating healthy diets and taking vitamins and/or prescription medication.

However, because depression is related to chemical imbalances of serotonin and norepinephrine in the body, some symptoms of depression are rooted in physical causes. For example, the sexual dysfunction associated with depression is likely the result of imbalanced hormones rather than the depressed person's aversion to having intercourse.

As researchers study and learn more about depression, they are finding that this psychiatric condition is closely related to a number of other disorders, including:

Keep in mind that, while depression causes some of the above conditions, it can result from the presence of others. In some cases, depression can both cause and be a symptom of certain conditions.

For example, those suffering from depression tend to eat more and exercise less than normal. Overtime, untreated depression can cause people to gain weight and possibly become obese. Similarly, those who are already obese are likely to feel helpless in their bodies, feeling as though they can't do anything about their physical condition. If these obese people aren't actively doing anything to curb weight gain and try to lose weight, they are apt to become depressed.

In this section, we will highlight a number of conditions that are often present in people who are depressed. Our articles will detail how and why each condition is related to depression.

Heart Disease and Depression

Although some medical experts have been reluctant to explore the connection between mental and physical states, recent research exploring this connection has unearthed some surprising statistics about the relationship between depression and heart disease. For example, while one in five people will experience a severe depressive episode at some point in their lives, 50 percent of all heart disease patients are likely to be depressed at some time in life.

Currently, the exact connection between depression and heart disease remains a mystery. However, while researchers are still investigating this relationship, a few theories propose some possible explanations. Although the details of these theories differ, the two main theories purport that depression causes physical changes in the body that lead to the development of heart disease.

As researchers continue to work at unmasking the exact link between depression and heart disease, anyone suspecting that he suffers from either condition should seek medical attention for a proper diagnosis and immediate treatment. Getting early treatment is the best way to ward off the connection between depression and heart disease.

Resources

Depression Guide (updated June 27, 2007). Disorders and Conditions Related to Depression. Retrieved October 17, 2007 from the Depression Guide Web site: http://www.depression-guide.com/disorders.htm.
 
 

In This Section:

Depression and Heart Disease