Can medical problems cause clinical depression? Or can depressed mood stem from physical ailments? In my practice, I’ve seen individuals with various medical concerns and some have developed significant emotional difficulties such as depression and anxiety.
What are some medical problems that can precipitate, cause, or increase the risk of clinical depression?
Multiple Sclerosis
Multiple Sclerosis, being one of the most common causes of disability among youths, is a serious neurologic disorder. About 50% of afflicted individuals are not able to walk or can’t anymore work within 15 years of being diagnosed with the illness. Also, about 50% with this illness develop depression. Suicide rate in this population is also high.
Stroke
Stroke is due to lack of blood supply to the brain, resulting in weakness or paralysis in one side of the body. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart problem are some of the common risk factors. After stroke, about 50% of patients develop depression although 50% of them only have minor depression. Those stroke victims who eventually develop dementia have higher rates of depression.
Epilepsy
Epilepsy is a disorder characterized by abnormal electrical brain activity that results in episodic involuntary body movements, upward rolling of eyeballs, and loss of consciousness. In one study (Blum et. Al 2002) that surveyed 2281 people, about 29% developed significant depression.
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease is a type of movement disorder characterized by slow movement, tremors, and rigidity. In a 2002 survey (The Global Parkinson’s Disease Survey 2002) of 1000 patients, 50% had depression and about 20% had moderate to severe depression. Unfortunately, less than 10% of patients were offered antidepressants.
Thyroid Problems
Both hyperthyroidism (excessive thyroid hormone) and hypothyroidism (low thyroid hormone) can manifest as depression. About 25 to 50% of individuals with hyperthyroidism may develop depression. Moreover, hypothyroid patients may develop depression, anxiety, and irritability.
Alzheimer’s disease
Alzheimer’s dementia is characterized by gradually increasing memory loss associated with functional impairment and brain dysfunction. Based on a 1999 study (Vilalta-Franch et. Al. 1999), the rate of depression in dementia is high at 27%. Some studies even showed that depression can occur in about 50% of patients with dementia.
Head Injury
Individuals who had head injury develop depression, suicide, and aggression. About 10% of head-injured patients die of suicide. Many patients develop crying spells, irritability, and anger episodes.
In summary, clinical depression is not just due to “chemical imbalance.” Medical problems as mentioned above can also trigger, cause, worsen, or increase the risk of depression. Whatever the cause, patients should be thoroughly assessed and should undergo treatment to prevent the complications of depression.