Reasons to Get Help for Depression

How Antidepressants and Cognitive Therapy Improve Physical Health

Jul 1, 2009

People with depression who don't get help or treatment are at an increased risk for physical illnesses. Here's how antidepressants and therapy affect long-term health.

Feelings of sadness, fatigue, and isolation have always been good reasons to get help for depression. New research shows that untreated depression can lead to other physical illnesses. Antidepressants and cognitive behavioral therapy are effective treatments for depression – and effective ways to live a longer, healthier life.

Depression and Alzheimer’s Disease

People with depression are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life, according to research from the Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.

“We don't know yet whether depression contributes to the development of Alzheimer's disease or whether another unknown factor causes both depression and dementia," said study author Monique M.B. Breteler, MD, PhD. "We'll need to do more studies to understand the relationship between depression and dementia."

One theory is that depression leads to loss of cells in two areas of the brain, the hippocampus and the amygdala, which then contributes to Alzheimer's disease. The sooner people with depression find effective treatments – whether antidepressants or cognitive behavioral therapy – the less their brain could be affected.

Depression and Obesity

Another reason to get help for depression is the connection to obesity. People who are depressed may be more likely to become obese because of physiological changes in their hormone and immune systems.

Also, people with depression may have more difficulty taking good care of themselves because of symptoms and consequences of depression, such as difficulty adhering to fitness regiments, overeating, and having negative thoughts.

Depression and Heart Attacks

Research from the Netherlands Heart Foundation found a consistent relationship between depression and a higher risk of death and disease. This study showed that depressed heart attack patients were twice as likely to die within two years after their first heart attack, as compared to non-depressed patients. Nearly 20 percent of all heart attack patients experience depression.

Getting help for depression isn’t just important for mental health, it can affect long-term physical health. If you’re struggling with feelings of despair, loneliness, or exhaustion, talk to a doctor. The most effective treatment may involve antidepressants, cognitive behavioral therapy, or lifestyle changes – but getting help for depression is the first step to living a longer, healthier life!

The copyright of the article Reasons to Get Help for Depression in Clinical Psychology is owned by Laurie Pawlik-Kienlen. Permission to republish Reasons to Get Help for Depression in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.