Also: New guidelines for incontinence treatment; When extra tests might help confirm depression

September 18, 2014 September 18, 2014 Depression and illness: Chicken or egg? When depression strikes, doctors usually probe what’s going on in the mind and brain first. But it’s also important to check what’s going on in the body, since certain medical problems are linked to mood disturbances. In fact, medical illnesses — and medication side effects — may be behind nearly 10% to 15% of all cases of depression. It’s not uncommon for a physical illness to trigger depression. Up to half of heart attack survivors and those with cancer report feeling blue, and many are diagnosed with depression. Many people who have diabetes, Parkinson’s, and other chronic conditions become depressed. Get your copy of Understanding Depression Depression is more than a passing bout of sadness or dejection, or feeling down in the dumps. It can leave you feeling continuously burdened and can sap the joy out of once-pleasurable activities. Effective treatment can lighten your mood, strengthen your connections with loved ones, allow you to find satisfaction in interests and hobbies, and make you feel more like yourself again. It works in the other direction, too. Depression can affect the course of a physical disease. Take heart disease — depression has been linked with slower recovery from a heart attack and an increased risk for future heart trouble. Here’s another chicken-or-egg example. Two common thyroid disorders are well known to affect mood. If the thyroid makes too much hormone (hyperthyroidism), manic symptoms can result. If the gland makes too little thyroid hormone (hypothyroidism), exhaustion and depression can appear. Treating thyroid disease can often relieve the mood problems. The list doesn’t stop there. Other medical conditions associated with mood disorders include certain neurological conditions (multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s), other hormonal imbalances, and some nutritional deficiencies, such as a lack of vitamin B12. The take-home message is that if you have depression, or think you might, a thorough physical exam and careful medical history could help pinpoint a physical source of the problem — and the most appropriate treatment. For more on diagnosing and finding the right treatment for the different types of depression, buy Understanding Depression, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: News and Views from the Harvard Health Blog New guidelines recommend Kegels, other lifestyle treatments for urinary incontinence in women New guidelines from the American College of Physicians encourage women to try drug-free ways such as Kegel exercises and bladder training, exercise, and weight loss to reduce or stop urinary incontinence. Confirming depression: When extra tests might help Medical science is making good progress in unraveling the biological underpinnings of depression. Someday, these discoveries may lead to lab tests that can help identify or confirm depression and other mood disorders. Right now, doctors and therapists rely on the symptoms reported by their patients, along with clinical expertise and experience, to diagnose depression and determine a course of treatment. Sometimes, though, additional information can help distinguish depression from other problems. That’s why your doctor might recommend any of the following tests: Psychological tests, during which you answer questions, respond to pictures, or perform tasks like sorting cards or drawing pictures. These tests can give your doctor a better sense of your coping mechanisms, your temperament, or your ability to organize and plan. Tests that look at the brain, such as an EEG or MRI, which can help identify causes of dementia or some rare causes of depression. Both tests are painless. During an EEG, electrodes taped to your scalp pick up electrical signals. An MRI uses magnets, a radio wave transmitter, and a computer to pick up small changes in energy in hydrogen molecules in your brain and process the data to make a detailed scan of your brain. Tests for other causes of depression, such as a blood test to check thyroid function. Doctors generally order such tests only when they note a potential health problem during a physical exam or medical history. For more information on the possible causes of depression and ways your doctor will work with you on a diagnosis, buy Understanding Depression, a Special Health Report from Harvard Medical School. Share this story: Featured in this issue Understanding Depression Featured content: • What is depression? • Causes of depression • Diagnosing depression • Seeking treatment • Finding the right medication •  ... and more! Click here to read more » Harvard Medical School offers special reports on over 50 health topics. Visit our website at http://www.health.harvard.edu to find reports of interest to you and your family. PHONE ORDERS - please call our toll-free number: 1-877-649-9457. You are currently subscribed to HEALTHbeat as BrendaModica252@gmail.com. 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