Depression and the link to other conditions

Depression is often linked to various other conditions, including mental health disorders and medical conditions. For example, many people who have depression also have anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep disorders or substance abuse problems.


Related depressive disorders
Dysthymia
Dysthymia is defined as a chronically depressed mood that occurs more days than not for at least two years. Other symptoms include at least two of the following:

sleep or appetite disturbances
chronic feelings of fatigue
low self-esteem
difficulty concentrating
chronic pessimism or hopelessness
For children who have dysthymia, academic performance and social interaction are often poor.

Dysthymia typically begins in childhood or early adulthood. For kids, dysthymic disorders affect both sexes equally. For adults, women are affected two to three times more often than men.

Cyclothymia
Cyclothymia is characterized by a chronic, fluctuating mood that includes episodes of depressive symptoms and hypomanic symptoms. During a hypomanic episode, you may notice an expansive, elevated or irritable mood, increased energy and less need for sleep.

Cyclothymia usually appears gradually during adolescence or early adulthood. A person who has cyclothymia has a 15 to 50 percent risk of developing bipolar disorder, another type of mood disorder.

Postpartum depression
Fifty to 80 percent of women experience mild feelings of sadness and a depressed mood after childbirth. This is often referred to as the "baby blues."

For up to 15 percent of mothers, mild depression after childbirth deepens into a more serious and lasting postpartum depression. Despite exhaustion, a woman affected by postpartum depression may be unable to sleep even when her baby is sleeping. She may feel inadequate as a mother and disinterested in the baby. She may fear being alone with the baby or hurting the baby. She may also experience anxiety attacks or have unwelcome thoughts about her body.

Women who've experienced a previous episode of depression have a higher risk of developing postpartum depression. Women who've experienced postpartum depression with psychotic features have a 30 to 50 percent risk of recurrence with each subsequent delivery.


Related medical conditions
Depression tends to be more common among people being treated for medical problems than the general population. Sometimes depression is a first sign of illness. In other cases, it's caused by the stress or disability associated with the illness. It can even result from medications or other treatments for the illness.
Heart disease
Heart disease can increase the risk of developing depression. An estimated one out of three people who've experienced a heart attack will become depressed, compared to one out of 20 people in the general population.

Cancer
Sometimes, depression precedes the diagnosis of cancer. It may even be the first indicator of cancer. Depression may also be precipitated by certain medications, such as steroids or chemotherapy agents. Depression may impact the course of the disease, as well as the ability to follow a treatment plan.

Stroke
Up to 27 percent of people who have a stroke experience major depression for nearly one year after the stroke. The likelihood of becoming depressed and the extent of the depression may vary depending on various factors, including:

the location of the brain lesion
the ability to function socially before the stroke (such as interaction with others and getting out of the house)
family history of depression
After a stroke, depression can cause a person to be less compliant, more demanding and more irritable. Profound personality changes may also develop.

HIV
People who have HIV have a higher risk of developing major depression than those in the general population. Depressive symptoms may be related to HIV itself or HIV-related conditions. It may also be a side effect of certain medications. In some cases, depression is related to the general stress of the illness.

Depression may lead some people to self-medicate with alcohol, drugs or herbal remedies. If you're considering taking an herbal supplement, consult your doctor first. Keep in mind that the herbal supplement St. John's wort can have harmful interactions with HIV medications.

Others
Other chronic medical conditions associated with depression include:

lupus
vitamin deficiencies
diabetes
immune deficiencies
hepatitis
chronic pain (such as back pain)
hormonal conditions such as thyroid problems