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MENTAL HEALTH FACT SHEETS
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Depression and Medical Issues
Clinical Depression is a common and highly treatable illness affecting over 19 million american adults.
Awareness and treatment can improve overall health and reduce suffering.
The Problem
Nearly two thirds of Americans do not get treatment, in part, because the effects of depression are not understood to be symptoms of an illness. Clinical depression commonly co-occurs with general medical illnesses, though it often goes undetected and untreated. In fact, while the rate of major depression among persons in the community is estimated to be between two to four percent, among primary care patients it is between five and ten percent and among medical inpatients it is between ten and fourteen percent. And an additional two to three times as many persons in these groups experience depressive symptoms. Research suggests that recognition and treatment of co-occurring depression may improve the outcome of the medical condition, enhance quality of life, and reduce the degree of pain and disability experienced by the medical patient. With proper treatment, however,nearly 80% of those with depressive illness can feel better, and most within a matter of weeks.
Depression: A Whole Body Illness
Depression affects mood, thought, body, and behavior. For some, it occurs in one or more relatively severe episodes, known as major depression. Others have ongoing, less severe but also debilitating symptoms, known as dysthymia. And still others have bipolar disorder (also known as manic depressive illness), where episodes of terrible "lows" alternate with excessive "highs".
Accurate Diagnosis Is Important
Since some symptoms are common to both depression and certain medical disorders, accurate diagnosis is critical to developing an effective plan for treatment. For example, symptoms of depression such as weight loss, sleep disturbances, and low energy, may also occur in diabetes, thyroid disorders, some neurologic disorders, heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Other depressive symptoms, such as loss of interest or memory , also occur early in the course of disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. In addition, achiness or fatigue may be present in many other conditions. In such cases, careful assessment of an individual's emotional state, and personal and family histories can help determine if one or two illnesses are present.
Symptoms Of Depression & Mania
| Depression |
Mania |
| • |
Persistent sad or "empty" mood |
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Excessively "high mood" |
| • |
Loss of interest in activities |
• |
Grandiose notions |
| • |
Feelings of guilt, helplessness/hopelessness |
• |
Increased talking |
| • |
Weight loss or overeating and weight gain |
• |
Racing thoughts |
| • |
Decreased energy, fatigue |
• |
Increased activity, including sexual |
| • |
Thoughts of death/suicide, or suicide attempts |
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Markedly increased energy |
| • |
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions |
• |
Poor judgment leading to risk-taking behavior |
| • |
Chronic aches and pains that don't respond to treatment |
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Inappropriate social behavior |
If a person has five or more of these symptoms for more than two weeks, it is important that these symptoms be brought to the attention of the individual's health care provider.
The relationship of clinical depression to a medical illness can be varied. Depression can occur as the biological result of a condition such as an underactive thyroid, or it can be the side-effect of one or a combination of medications, including over-the-counter medications. In such cases, the depression may be relieved by a change in dosage or type of treatment(s). On the other hand, it is not unusual for a traumatic diagnosis, such as cancer, to trigger a period of depressive symptomatology including sadness, poor concentration, anxiety, or withdrawal. Careful monitoring of the length and severity of depressive symptoms can determine if clinical depression is an additional diagnosis.
The Path To Healing
With treatment, up to 80% of those with depression can show improvement, usually in a matter of weeks. Treatment of depression can improve a patient's overall ft::, quality of life in several ways. It may enhance the ability to follow the treatment regimen for the co-occurring medical condition, decreasing complications and improving the eventual outcome. In addition, effective management of depression can lessen the degree to which the patient is irritable, demanding, or experiences overall problems in functioning, any of which may contribute to slower or more difficult recovery, and greater stress and disability from the medical condition. Finally, controlling the depression will often improve the cognitive symptoms that are a part of some illnesses.
Treatment choice will depend on the outcome of the evaluation. There are a variety of antidepressant medications and psychotherapies that can be used to treat depressive disorders. Some people with milder forms may do well with psychotherapy alone. People with moderate to severe depression most often benefit from antidepressants. Most do best with combined treatment: medication to gain relatively quick symptom relief and psychotherapy to learn more effective ways to deal with life's problems.
As with many illnesses, the earlier treatment begins, the more effective and the greater the likelihood of preventing serious recurrences.
Rimrock Foundation has four newly licensed Crisis Stabilization beds available for patients who may need a short-term stay for the purpose of stabilizing them on prescribed medications or who may need a safe place with medical monitoring and evaluation but who do not require the full services of an acute psychiatric facility .These beds serve as an alternative to hospitalization and may be accessed by referral from the patient's physician, case manager or therapist. Call our Crisis Program Coordinator for more information or to make a referral.
For further information on Rimrock Foundation's treatment of Depression, call Barbara Hansen, Admissions Supervisor at 1-800-227-3953 or 1-406-248-3175, or visit our website at rimrock.org. For more educational information on Depression, contact the Rimrock Foundation Library at 1-800-227-3953 or 1-406-248-3175.
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