Download The Link Between Depression and Other Mental Illnesses

The Link Between Depression and Other Mental Illnesses
Clinical depression has been linked to other mental illnesses, such as anxiety disorders like post-traumatic stress
disorder (PTSD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), panic disorder, social phobia, and generalized anxiety
disorder. Together, these conditions affect millions of Americans.
Fortunately, these disorders are treatable, and those affected can lead normal, productive lives.
What Is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal reaction to stress, but when it takes on a life of its own it becomes an unhealthy, generalized
reaction that affects the body and mind. Symptoms can include rapid heartbeat, aches and pains, and muscle tension.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, more than 18% of adults in the United States suffer from an
anxiety disorder in any given year, and anxiety disorders are prevalent in 25% of children ages 13-18. Like
depression, anxiety is thought to arise from a combination of both genetic and environmental factors.
What Is an Anxiety Disorder?
Although anxiety is not always present in depressive disorders, most of the time it lurks beneath the surface. But true
depression differs from an anxiety disorder in that a depressed mood is typically its most obvious symptom, whereas
anxiety is the primary sign of an authentic anxiety disorder.
Anxiety disorders include:
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Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Panic disorder -- with or without agoraphobia (fear of being in crowds)
Phobic disorder
Social anxiety disorder
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Anxiety disorders affect women twice as frequently as they do men. And many studies show that people with
depression often experience symptoms of an anxiety disorder.
An anxiety disorder that's left untreated can cause unnecessary suffering and impairment for both the person who
has one and the person's family.
What Is Generalized Anxiety Disorder?
People with generalized anxiety disorder (GAD) are filled with greatly exaggerated worry and tension -- even
though there is usually nothing to worry about. These individuals anticipate disaster and ruminate about their health,
their finances, their work, their relationships and family problems.
To make a diagnosis of GAD, excessive worrying and anxiety have to occur more days than not for at least 6
months. The person is unable to control the worry and may have other symptoms including:
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Difficulty concentrating
Fatigue
Irritability
Muscle tension
Restlessness
Sleep disturbance
This anxiety disorder is not related to substance abuse or a medical condition. It occurs independently.
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/link-to-other-mental-illnesses
The Link Between Depression and Other Mental Illnesses
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What Is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?
Obsessive-compulsive disorder, or OCD, is characterized by continuous, unwanted, and intruding thoughts that the
person is unable to control. These thoughts are also accompanied by a pervasive anxiety.
Compulsive disorder refers to repeated, ritualistic behavior that often is purposeless and which the patient is unable
to stop. OCD is also accompanied by general anxiety. Obsessive thoughts and compulsive acts may focus around
real-life problems the patient is confronting or may take on a bizarre nature.
What Is Panic Disorder?
Panic disorder is another type of generalized anxiety disorder that often co-exists with depression. Panic disorder
affects 6 million Americans every year, most often young adults.
Panic disorder involves the sudden onset of overwhelming fear and terror. The person may also experience:
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Chest pain
Choking
Difficulty breathing
Dizziness
Gastrointestinal distress
Headache
Shortness of breath
Sweaty palms
Tachycardia (an unusually rapid heart beat)
Trembling
The person feels like he or she is either going to faint, have a heart attack and die, or go crazy.
For somebody to be diagnosed with panic attack, at least four of the following symptoms need to be present:
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Chest pain
Choking sensation
Dizziness
Extreme sweating
Fast heartbeat
Fear of dying
Feeling of losing control
Feelings of unreality or being detached from oneself
Hot flashes or chills
Nausea
Numbness
Shakiness
Shortness of breath
These symptoms are often accompanied by worry over the implications of the attack -- like fear of death from a
heart attack -- and altered behavior, like avoiding a particular place because of the attack.
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The Link Between Depression and Other Mental Illnesses
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What Is Phobic Disorder?
Phobic disorder is an unreasonable or irrational fear of something that poses little or no real danger. The fear can be
of a situation, object, or event. If people with phobias can't avoid what they fear, then it immediately results in a
marked anxiety response. This response can include rapid heartbeat, nausea, or profuse sweating. Phobias are
common and strike one out of 10 Americans, with women twice as likely to have a phobia as men.
What Is Social Anxiety Disorder?
Social anxiety disorder, also called social phobia, is a psychological condition that causes an overwhelming fear of
situations that require interacting with another person or performing in front of others. Unlike being shy around
strangers or nervous before a performance, social anxiety is a fear that you might humiliate yourself with your
actions or speech in public.
Social phobia is common. It affects more than 15 million people in any given year. It often begins in childhood and
rarely develops after age 25.
People with social phobia are often aware that their fears are irrational, but they are unable to ease or erase these
fears.
The symptoms of social phobia are much the same as symptoms for other anxiety disorders. They include:
 Difficulty talking
 Dry mouth
 Intense sweating
 Nausea
 Racing heart
 Trembling or shaking
Like with other anxiety illnesses, symptoms can be tolerable or so severe that they become socially debilitating.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) happens after exposure to a traumatic event. It may be an event the person
witnessed, or a situation in which the person was confronted with a threat of death or serious injury to himself or
others.
A person's response to such an event involves intense fear, helplessness, or horror. After the initial episode, the
person may have distressing recollections of the event, including perceptions, dreams, images, thoughts, or a feeling
of reliving the experience. The persistent symptoms that occur after the trauma may result in:
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Anger
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty sleeping
Exaggerated startle response
Irritability
Avoidance of triggering events
Does Depression Co-Exist With Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a type of major psychotic illness that is usually marked by an inability to distinguish the real from
the imaginary, confused or jumbled thoughts, and hallucinations. Feelings of emptiness and sadness may be a
symptom of the disorder, but schizophrenia and depression are different on a neurobiological level. Schizophrenia is
usually not seen in depression.
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/link-to-other-mental-illnesses
The Link Between Depression and Other Mental Illnesses
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Is There a Link Between Depression and Eating Disorders?
Eating disorders frequently occur with depression and anxiety disorders. According to the National Institute of
Mental Health, eating disorders are marked by extremes. They occur when someone severely reduces food intake or
overeats to the extreme. Treatment may include antidepressants.
The two most common types of eating disorders are anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa. Eating disorders are
most common among teenage girls and women. These disorders often get worse the longer they go untreated. The
lack of nutrition associated with eating disorders can harm the body's organs and, in severe cases, lead to death.
People with anorexia purposefully starve themselves, despite their hunger. They tend to excel in sports, school, and
work -- often seeking perfection. Some people with anorexia stop eating in order to gain a feeling of control over
their lives. Others may do so to rebel against parents and other loved ones. The diagnosis of anorexia nervosa
requires that a person weigh at least 15% less than his or her ideal body weight. It is estimated that up to 3.7% of
females will suffer from anorexia at some time during their lives.
Anorexia is primarily a food restriction disorder. However, it is not uncommon for people with anorexia to purge, or
empty themselves, through vomiting and abuse of laxatives, enemas, and diuretics.
People with bulimia nervosa eat large amounts of food all at once and then vomit. The vomiting may occur multiple
times during a day. The vomiting is triggered by a fear of weight gain or stomach discomfort. People with bulimia
also use laxatives, diuretics, and vigorous exercise to purge themselves.
In order for a person to be diagnosed with bulimia, this behavior must occur at least twice a week for three months
in a row. Although people with bulimia are often underweight, they may also have a normal body weight. It is
estimated that bulimia will affect up to 4.2% of females at some point in their lives.
What About Substance Abuse and Depression?
Substance abuse -- which is linked to depression -- is the use of drugs or alcohol to the point of social, financial,
legal, occupational, or physical harm. Millions of Americans abuse drugs or alcohol for a variety of reasons, among
them to cope with stress and anxiety. Biological factors, such as a genetic tendency, may also play a role. Substance
abuse may include some of the following symptoms:
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Continuing to use the substance despite the knowledge of its harmful effects on one's
physical and mental condition.
Finding it impossible to discontinue use despite making efforts.
Giving up or reducing social, recreational, and work-related activities because of
substance use.
Increasing the amount of a substance used over time.
Spending lots of time and effort either getting the substance or recovering from its
use.
Needing to increase the amounts of a substance in order to become intoxicated, or
experiencing a diminished effect from continued use of the same amount.
Taking more of the substance to ease withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, shaking, insomnia, agitation, hallucination,
and sweating following a reduction in the amount of a substance taken.
There are varied approaches to treating people with substance abuse. Some will need detoxification in a hospital or a
clinic. Rehabilitation may include one-on-one counseling, group counseling, and support groups. Antidepressant
medicines -- in combination with education to help people address and conquer the emotions that cause them to
abuse drugs or alcohol -- can also be effective.
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/link-to-other-mental-illnesses