RA and Depression Part 1

RA AND DEPRESSION

( Post no.1 is "What is Rheumatoid Arthritis" 4/28/15)

What is Depression: Depression (major depressive disorder) is a common and serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think and how you act.  Fortunately, it is also treatable.
Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss of interest in activities once enjoyed. It can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems and can decrease a person’s ability to function at work and at home.
Depression symptoms can vary from mild to severe and can include:
• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite—weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Increase in restless activity (e.g., hand-wringing or pacing) or slowed movements and speech
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating, or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide (American Psychiatric Association)


 1) Understanding RA and depression: People with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are about twice as likely to be depressed as people without this inflammatory autoimmune disease.
That's no shocker: It makes sense that living with chronic pain, and potential disability, can make you feel helpless and hopeless.

2) Depression doubles mortality risk: Depression is more than just a bad mood; it can be dangerous.
One study from researchers at the Indiana University School of Medicine found that people with RA who had "persistent or recurrent" depression were at least twice as likely to die during the study period as their counterparts who were not depressed.

3)Sighing can be a sign of depression: Are you depressed? Well, a small study suggests that frequent sighing can be one sign in people with RA.

4) Inflammation may play a role: High levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) in the blood have been associated with a greater risk of depression in RA patients, Dr. Bergman says. "So it is possible that the inflammation causing the RA also causes depression."

5) Both pain and depression need attention: Manu Mathews, MD, a pain expert at the Cleveland Clinic, in Ohio, says "if pain is not addressed, depression is more likely to be resistant to treatment, and vice versa is true." Both problems need to be taken seriously.

6)Tell Your Doctor: Hopefully your doctor will ask about feelings of depression, but if she doesn't, don't hesitate to bring it up. Too often, visits focus on physical symptoms at the expense of emotional ones.

7) Treating the Pain may relieve the Depression: The worse your pain, the greater your risk of depression, says Dr. Mathews.

8) Depression can affect ability to manage RA: Today's RA treatments are effective, but they don't work if you don't take them, Dr. Bergman says.

9) Consider counseling: There's evidence that cognitive behavioral therapy, which focuses on coping skills, relaxation training, and the management of flare-ups, can relieve depression in people with rheumatoid arthritis.

10) Antidepressants can help: People who have RA can safely take antidepressants in addition to other medications, and studies suggest antidepressants improve depression, anxiety, and feelings of helplessness.

11) Exercise may ease pain, boost mood: Many people with RA find it difficult to exercise because of the pain. But aerobic exercise such as walking and swimming—or if those are impossible, gentle stretching such as tai chi—may actually improve function and reduce pain, Dr. Mathews says.

12) Prioritizing sleep can help: Recent studies have found that many people with RA suffer from poor and fragmented sleep, due to pain and other reasons. (HEALTH.COM)

*I try to give as much information as I can on the subjects, then in part two i'll share  my experiences on the subject.*