Many people with chronic illness experience depression. In fact, depression is one of the most common complications of many chronic illnesses. It is estimated that up to one-third of individuals with a serious medical condition experience symptoms of depression.
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It's not hard to see how the stresses associated with a chronic illness can trigger clinical depression in people with a biological vulnerability to a mood disorder. Serious illness can cause tremendous changes in lifestyle, and limit an individual’s mobility and independence. Chronic illness may make it impossible to pursue the activities one enjoys and can undermine self-confidence and a sense of hope in the future. It is not surprising, then, that people with chronic illness often experience a certain amount of despair and sadness. In some cases, the physical effects of the illness itself or side effects of medication may also lead to depression.
What Chronic Conditions Trigger Depression?
Although any illness can trigger depressed feelings, the risk of chronic illness and clinical depression increases with the severity of the illness and the level of life disruption it causes. The risk of getting depression is generally 10% to 25% for women and 5% to 12% for men. However, those with chronic illnesses face a much higher risk -- between 25% and 33%.
Depression associated with a chronic medical illness often aggravates the condition, especially if the illness causes pain and fatigue, or limits a person’s ability to interact with others. Depression can intensify pain, as well as fatigue and sluggishness. The combination of chronic illness and depression also can cause people to isolate themselves, which is likely to exacerbate the depression.
Research on chronic illnesses and depression indicates that depression rates are high among patients with chronic conditions:
- Heart attack: 40% to 65% experience depression
- Coronary artery disease (without heart attack): 18% to 20% experience depression
- Parkinson's disease: 40% experience depression
- Multiple sclerosis: 40% experience depression
- Stroke: 10% to 27% experience depression
- Cancer: 25% experience depression
- Diabetes: 25% experience depression
- Chronic pain syndrome: 30% to 54% experience depression