depression and chronic physical illness

8/3/2019 Depression and Chronic Physical Illness

1/4

Chronic physical illnessand depression

Fact sheet 23

For mor informion www.beyondblue.org.au orbeyondblue info line 1300 22 46361 of 4

What Is a chRONIc PhYsIcaL

ILLNess?

A chronic physical illness is an enduring health

problem that will not go away or example

diabetes, asthma. Chronic physical illnesses can

be managed, but they cannot be cured. People

who live with a chronic illness have a greater risk o

developing depression.

Common chronic physical illnesses

Asthma

HeartDisease

Stroke

Arthritis

Diabetes

Cancer

Less common chronic physical illnesses that can also be

associated with depression include chronic pain, Parkinsons

disease and chronic atigue syndrome.

What Is DePRessION?

Depressionisnotjustalowmood,butaserioushealth

condition which aects a persons biological unctioning and

well-being or a sustained period o more than two weeks.

People with depression fnd it hard to carry out their normal

dailyactivities.Depressioncanseriouslyaffectapersons

physicalandmentalhealth.

People with depression can experience a prolonged,

uncharacteristic period o low mood, reduced interest in activities,

tiredness, disturbance o sleep and appetite, and negative

thoughts and eelings.

To fnd out about the general symptoms o depression, go to

the series o depression checklists at www.beyondblue.org.au

or call thebeyondblue ino line on 1300 22 4636.

What Is the LINK BetWeeN

DePRessION aND chRONIc

PhYsIcaL ILLNess?

Research indicates there are strong links between depression

and chronic physical illness.

Depressioniscommononeinvepeoplewillhave

depression at some time in their lives. For people who live with

chronic physical illness, this fgure is even higher. Researchshows that 43 per cent o Australians with a mental disorder

have a chronic physical illness such as asthma, chronic

bronchitis, anaemia, high blood pressure, heart disease,

arthritis, kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, stomach or

duodenal ulcers, chronic gall bladder or liver problems.1

Havingachronicphysicalillnessputsapersonatgreaterrisk

o developing depression. The symptoms o chronic physical

illnesses, as well as some o the treatments, can result in

majorlifestylechangeswhichmaycauseseveredisruptionsto

a persons work, social lie and create fnancial difculties.

Depressionalsoincreasesthelikelihoodofdevelopinga

chronic physical illness, particularly cardiovascular (heart)

disease or stroke.

Forpeoplewithachronicphysicalillness,depression

makes recovery more difcult. It can make it harder or

people to fnd the energy to eat healthily, exercise or take

medication regularly.

Havingachronicphysicalillnesscanalsomakeitseemlike

an eort to connect with amily members and riends. This

can make the person with the illness eel isolated and make

it harder or them to recover rom depression.

1 (beyondblues Submission to Senate Select Committee on Mental Health, 2005).


2/4

Fact sheet 23



hOW Is DePRessION DIFFeReNt

FROM saDNess?

Havingachronicphysicalillnesscancauseworry,stressand

sadness.Itcanbedifculttoknowifapersonisjustfeelinglow

because o all the changes in their lie or i the person really has

depression.

A person may be depressed, i or more than two weeks

they have:

Feltsad,downormiserablemostofthetimeOR

Lostinterestorpleasureinmostoftheirusualactivities

and

Experiencedsymptomsinat least three of the following

four categories:

1. Feelings

lOverwhelmed

l Guilty

l Irritable

l Frustrated

l Unhappy

l Indecisive

lDisappointed

l Miserable

lSad,tearful

2. Thinking

l Im a ailure.

l Its my ault.

l Nothing good ever happens to me.

l Im worthless.

l Lie is not worth living.

3. Behaviour

lStoppedgoingout

l Not getting things done at work

l Withdrawing rom amily and riends

l Relying on alcohol and sedatives

lStoppeddoingthingstheyonceenjoyed

l Inability to concentrate

4. Physical

l Tired all the time

lSickandrundown

lSlownessofmovement

lSlownessofthinking

lHeadachesandmuscle/stomachpains

lSleepdisturbance

lPoorappetite/weightloss

caN PeOPLe WIth DePRessION

aND chRONIc PhYsIcaL ILLNess

Be tReateD?

There is a range o treatments that can be eective or people

with depression and a chronic physical illness. Treatment may

includepsychologicaltherapiesand/ormedication.

Psychological treatments

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)Often,peoplewithaseverechronicphysicalillnessand

depression have negative ways o seeing situations and people.

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy helps people learn to identiy and

changethesenegativewaysofthinkingandndwaystoenjoy

themselves.

Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)

The way we get along with others is important to how we eel.

Interpersonal Therapy helps people fnd new ways to improve

relationships in order to begin eeling better.


3/4For mor informion www.beyondblue.org.au orbeyondblue info line 1300 22 46363 of 4

Medication

I a person is only mildly or moderately depressed, psychological

treatmentalonemaybeeffective.However,ifdepressionissevere

or persists, medication is oten also needed.

Medical research shows that depression is oten associated with

an imbalance o certain chemicals in the brain. Antidepressants

can help rebalance these chemicals.

Antidepressant medication can take seven to 21 days to

work eectively and should not be started or stopped without

medical advice.

Its important that any current medication or the chronic

physical illness, including over-the-counter medications and

herbal or natural remedies, is reviewed by a medical practitioner

beore the person starts taking antidepressants.

How to help someone with depression

I you suspect that you or someone you know may have

depression, the ollowing tips may be helpul.

Speaktoadoctoraboutyourconcerns.

Gethelp,supportandencouragementfromfamilyandfriends.

Learnmoreaboutdepressionandthechronicphysicalillness.

Becomeinvolvedinsocialactivities.

Exerciseregularly.

Eathealthilyandincludeawidevarietyofnutritiousfoods.

Achieveandmaintainahealthyweight.

Limitalcoholintake.

Gotoadoctorforregularcheck-ups.

WheRe tO Get heLP

A doctor who is a General Practitioner (GP) is a good

frst step. In some cases, the person may be reerred to a

mental health specialist like a psychiatrist or psychologist.

For a list o GPs with expertise in treating depression,

anxiety and related disorders visit thebeyondblue website

www.beyondblue.org.au and click on GetHelp or call the

beyondblue ino line on 1300 22 4636 (local call).

Psychiatrists are doctors who specialise in mental health.They can make medical and psychological assessments,

conductmedicaltestsandprescribemedication.Some

psychiatrists use psychological treatments such as CBT

and IPT.

Psychologists, Social Workers and Occupational

Therapists specialise in providing non-medical

(psychological) treatment or depression and related

disorders. A rebate can now be claimed through Medicare

or psychological treatments when a GP, psychiatrist or

paediatrician reers a person to a registered psychologist,

social worker or occupational therapist. A rebate can

be claimed or part o the cost or up to 12 individual

consultations (18 in exceptional circumstances) and 12

group sessions in a calendar year. For more details, ask

the reerring medical practitioner. For a list o mental health

proessionals who provide psychological treatment or which

a Medicare rebate can be claimed, go to the beyondblue

website: www.byondblu.org.u and click GetHelp, then

FindaDoctororotherMentalHealthPractitioner.


4/4

Fact sheet 23


04/09


MORe INFORMatION

beyondblue: the national depression initiative

www.beyondblue.org.au

Inormation on depression, anxiety and related alcohol and drug

problems, available treatments and where to get help

beyondblueFactsheet18Depressionandcoronaryheart

disease

beyondblueFactsheet19Depressionanddiabetes

beyondblueFactsheet20Depressionafterstroke

beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636

Inormation on depression, anxiety and related drug and alcohol

problems, available treatments and reerral only (local call)

www.youthbeyondblue.com

beyondblues website or young people inormation on

depression and how to help a riend

Asthma Foundations of Australia

1800 645 130

www.asthmaaustralia.org.au

Inormation, advice, education, counselling and support or

people with asthma

Diabetes Australia

1300 136 588

www.diabetesaustralia.com.au

Inormation about diabetes

National Breast Cancer Foundation

www.nbcf.org.au

Inormation on breast cancer

National Heart Foundation of Australia

1300 36 27 87

www.heartfoundation.com.au

Inormation on a range o heart-health topics

National Stroke Foundation

1800 787 653

www.strokefoundation.com.au

Inormation on stroke

Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia

www.prostate.org.au

Inormation on prostate cancer

SANE Australia

1800 187 263

www.sane.org

Inormation and reerral on mental health issues

The Cancer Council Australia

13 11 20

www.cancer.org.au

Inormation about cancer

Lifeline

13 11 14

24 hour counselling, inormation and reerral (local call)

Mensline Australia

1300 789 978 or www.menslineaus.org.au

24 hour telephone support, inormation and reerral or men

thINGs tO ReMeMBeR

Forpeoplewithachronicphysicalillness,depression

is common.

Helpandeffectivetreatmentsareavailable.

Withtherighttreatment,mostpeoplerecoverfrom

depression.

Itsimportanttoseekhelpearlythesoonerthebetter.

Depressionisnotaweaknessandpeopleshouldntfeel

ashamed to seek help.

beyondblue: the national depression initiative ,2009.

POBox6100,HawthornWestVIC3122

T:(03)98106100 beyondblue ino line 1300 22 4636

F:(03)98106111

E:[email protected]

W: www.beyondblue.org.au

depression and chronic physical illness

Documents