Prevent Postpartum Depression.Research On Treatments For Depression Medication - From The NIMH ?
Q: Several studies have shown an increased risk of suicide attempts in
people with co-occurring depression and panic disorder—the anxiety
disorder characterized by unexpected and repeated episodes of intense
fear and physical symptoms, including chest pain, dizziness, and
shortness of breath.
A:Depression frequently co-occurs with a variety of other physical
illnesses, including heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, and
also can increase the risk for subsequent physical illness,
disability, and premature death. Depression in the context of physical
illness, however, is often unrecognized and untreated. Furthermore,
depression can impair the ability to seek and stay on treatment for
other medical illnesses. NIMH research suggests that early diagnosis
and treatment of depression in patients with other physical illnesses
may help improve overall health outcome.
The results of a recent NIMH-supported study provide the strongest
evidence to date that depression increases the risk of having a future
heart attack. Analysis of data from a large-scale survey revealed that
individuals with a history of major depression were more than four
times as likely to suffer a heart attack over a 12-13 year follow-up
period, compared to people without such a history. Even people with a
history of 2 or more weeks of mild depression were more than twice as
likely to have a heart attack, compared to those who had had no such
episodes. Although associations were found between certain
psychotropic medications and heart attack risk, the researchers
determined that the associations were simply a reflection of the
primary relationship between depression and heart trouble. The
question of whether treatment for depression reduces the excess risk
of heart attack in depressed patients must be addressed with further
research.
NIMH is planning to present a major conference with other NIH
Institutes on depression and co-occurring illnesses. The outcomes of
this conference will guide NIMH investigation of depression both as a
contributing factor to other medical illnesses and as a result of
these illnesses.
Large-scale