Beat Depression to Stay Healthier and Live Longer by M. S. D. Moak

Author:M. S. D. Moak
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: undefined
Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published: 2012-03-18T16:00:00+00:00

The Arthritis-Depression Vicious Cycle

Depression and arthritis are both inflammatory conditions. Much like diabetes, the relationship between depression and arthritis is a two-way street. The inflammation arthritis causes can alter the activity of brain circuits, resulting in depression. Once depression takes hold, it causes its own inflammatory effects that stoke the flames of arthritis. You can see how a physiological vicious cycle gets established.

Behavioral factors then fan the flames, winding up this vicious cycle further. Successfully living with arthritis requires participation in physical therapy and regular exercise. It takes a lot of motivation to exercise when you are stiff and in pain. Depression robs patients of the ambition, energy, motivation, and determination necessary to make exercise part of their lifestyle.

Depression causes excess disability, another important concept in geriatrics. Excess disability refers to a level of added disability above and beyond that caused by a single disease. Depression accounts for much excess disability, and Daniel had more than his share. In his case, arthritis alone would have caused only minor restrictions of activity. In fact, he did not become severely disabled until depression overtook him.

Excess disability is common in arthritis sufferers who also have depression. Among patients with arthritis, the severity of their depression and pain predicts how much disability they have much better than the actual amount of joint damage visible on their x-rays. In other words, limitation of movement and function has less to do with the amount of actual joint damage and more to do with depressive emotions.[4]

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