The impact of chronic diseases has become widely spread in the world to such an extent that by the year 2020, they will have been ranked second after heart diseases in the world’s burden of diseases. It is, therefore, important that healthcare delivery and public health assessment places focus and attention on the relationship between chronic diseases and depressive disorders (Passik et al, 2002). According to an article, “The Vital Link Between Chronic Disease and Depressive Disorders”, by Chapman, D et al, some of the most chronic diseases include Cardiovascular diseases, asthma, arthritis, obesity, diabetes and cancer.
In their study, it was found out that mental illnesses, with special regard to depressive disorders, were closely associated with the increased presence of chronic diseases (Keefe et al, 2004). This close relationship between chronic diseases, according to the article, is due to chronic ailments which exacerbate depression symptoms and depressive disorders that precipitate chronic diseases. The complex relationship existing between chronic diseases and depressive disorders is known to have wide implications for both the treatment of depression and management of chronic diseases (Chapman, et al, 2005).
Chronic diseases and its outcomes are closely associated with the course and etiology played by the depressive orders. There is an urgent need to examine the role that is exerted by mental sicknesses besides depression and foster quick detention and treatment of disorders related to depression through the multivariation of community based intervention and research. Research studies indicate that at least 7 out 10 visits to healthcare practitioners are related to chronic ailments or diseases and thus its management has been given a vital role in delivery of health care services. There is also an urgent need to understand the connection that exists between depressive orders and chronic diseases since they have become major impediments towards delivery of quality healthcare services towards the general society.
From the article, it is clear that there has been little empirical review concerning the recognition of the importance of both depressive disorders and chronic diseases in spite of numerous research conducted to examine the interrelationship. A search for literature reviews in this issue only yielded two publications. Previous reviews were weak because they did not sufficiently address variables that were disease specific which were behind the associations between some chronic diseases and depressive disorder. It was also ascertained that the reviews were limited in scope. It was, therefore, important to review the research literature through close examination of the relation between the prevalence of chronic diseases and depressive disorders (Johnson, et al, 2004).
Methods
Some of the most prevalent diseases that were chosen because of their mortality and morbidity in the adults in the United States included obesity, cancer, arthritis, diabetes, arthritis and asthma.
Results
It was revealed from the research that approximately 50 per cent of patients suffering from asthma were likely to suffer from clinical symptoms, which were due to stress, or having a chronic disease like asthma. Depression was ascertained to be prevalent in individuals suffering from asthma. Asthma has also been associated with the prevalence of anxiety disorder in samples of adolescents and children. It was, therefore, revealed from the study that symptoms of asthma were associated with anxiety and depression. Early intervention and assessment of depressive disorders will greatly improve the treatment, outcomes and adherence of asthma as well as reducing its mortality (Antoni, 2004).
Individuals with arthritis were known to have anxiety and depression as the major concerns. This was realized after screening tests indicated that patients affected by arthritis had depression. This relationship between depression and arthritis was a pointer that depression was associated with arthritis as a chronic disease. Depression in such patients was known to be reduced through interventions aimed at improving the mood. Antidepressant medication will also enhance the psychological and heath status of individuals having arthritis. Pain and disability were also known to be reduced through aerobic exercises which also ameliorated depressive symptoms (Schwartzberg, et al, 2003).
From the above cases about the relationship of chronic diseases and depressive disorders among various patients, it can be truly ascertained that various research studies which sought to examine these associations suggested that timely diagnostic and treatments of depressive disorders could have a big impact on the prevalence of chronic diseases (Yancey, et al, 2004).
The prevalence of mental illnesses in various communities all over the world can be a strong contributor towards the prevalence of chronic diseases. Significant proportions of burdens which arise from chronic diseases can be reduced through the promotion of health care services in the mental health departments in various institutions of healthcare. It is from this study that it can be ascertained that the presence of depressive disorders among individuals can have adverse effects on the course and general treatment of cases of chronic ailments. Treatment of depressive disorders should be done promptly and quickly since lack of treatment may eventually result in chronic courses which lead to chronic diseases. Valuable insights, according to this article, concerning current notions of quality of life and general health can be presented through multivariate investigations regarding the association of chronic diseases, depressive disorders and various socio demographic and medical characteristics (Wong et al, 2003).
Conclusion
Further research should be conducted with an aim of looking for possible solutions on how chronic diseases and depression disorders can be reduced in the community and society settings with a view of reducing burdens related to these problems. Prevention approaches rather than cure approaches should be taken when dealing with the causes of these ailments which are predicted to affect the human kind in years to come if no proper strategies are put in place to eliminate it. Concerned stakeholders should join hands to ensure the human race is protected from these social medical conditions (Kotwal, et al, 2004).
References
Antoni, M, (2004). Cognitive Behavioural Stress Management Increases benefit…London: J Psychosom Res.
Chapman, D. (2005). The Vital Link between Chronic Disease and Depressive Disorders. Web.
Johnson, J., et al (2004). The Relationship of Body Mass Index to Depressive Symptoms. New York: Can J. Public Health.
Keefe, F. et al (2004). Tailoring Cognitive Behavioural Treatment for Cancer Pain. New York: Pain Manage Nurse.
Kotwal, R, et al (2004). Are Mood Disorders and Obesity Related … New York: J. Clin Psychiatry.
Passik, S. et al, (2002). Use of a Depression Screening Tool and a Fluoxetine-based Algorithm to improve recognition and Treatment of Depression in Cancer Patients. New York: J. Pain.
Schatzberg, A, et al. (2003). Antidepressants: In. Manual of Clinical Psychopharmacology. Washington D.C: American Psychiatric Publishing.
Schuler, S. (2002). Most Patients Depressed by Cancer do not Need Drugs. London: BMJ.
Wong, M, et al (2003). The Interface of Obesity and Depression: Risk Factors for the Metabolic Syndrome. London: Rev Bras Psiquitar.
Yancey, K, et al (2004). Physical Inactivity and Overweight Among Los Angels County Adults. New York: Am J Prev Med.