When people are diagnosed with major depression, they obviously have a depressed mood. But new research is showing that depression doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and the condition is also associated with many other chronic health problems, from diabetes to asthma to arthritis. Being depressed actually worsens the effects of other physical illnesses.

I don’t mean simply feeling down about a chronic physical problem. People with various medical problems often may feel discouraged about their condition, but they usually don’t become severely depressed. However, being affected by depression may be having a negative effect on other illnesses you may also be experiencing.

In fact, a recent study published in The Lancet backs up this compounding effect of depression by suggesting that chronic illnesses become even more disabling in people who were already depressed.

And the authors go on to suggest that the depression itself may be more disabling than common chronic conditions like angina, arthritis, asthma, and diabetes. Based on what this and other findings about the effects of depression on other illnesses, it makes sense for primary care doctors always to consider whether their patients are depressed when evaluating them for chronic conditions.

And, of course, patients should bring up to their doctor any symptoms of depression, such as persistent sadness, thoughts of life being worthless, changes in sleeping patterns, decreased appetite, and less interest in the things usually enjoyed.  

If you are depressed, treatment won’t merely improve your mood. It might also help with other health problems, too.