6 April 2009

A 57-page research supplement to the 6 April 2009 edition of the Medical Journal of Australia sheds light on the complex relationship between chronic illness and poor mental health.

The supplement - Depression and Anxiety with Physical Illness - supported by beyondblue, includes 11 articles featuring research and commentary from some of Australia's leading mental health experts.

In any year, up to one in five Australians experience a mental health problem. Of these, 43 per cent also have a physical illness.

These studies establish a strong connection between physical illness and mental illness and conclude that treating both conditions improves overall health outcomes.

Clinical Adviser to beyondblue, Professor David Clarke, authored the introduction to the supplement and was the lead researcher on one of the studies.

He says while academics have long been aware of this link, it's time that the medical community placed equal importance on treating physical and mental health because often depression and anxiety go undetected.

"Depression alone produces a level of disability equivalent to many other chronic diseases and when combined with physical illness, this effect is multiplied," Prof Clarke said. "Having a debilitating or life-limiting disease will make some people depressed - in a similar way, perhaps, to grief."

Dr Clarke said the common symptoms of chronic illness, such as unrelenting pain, "loss of spirit", feeling helpless and uncertain about the future can all contribute to depressive symptoms. Many studies have shown that if depression is not treated in tandem with the physical illness, chances of recovery are impeded.

"Health care administration - at both government and health service levels - separates physical care from mental health care. This is not effective, efficient or cheap. It is now time to put into place structures that integrate physical and psychosocial health care."

beyondblue CEO Leonie Young said: "It's important for beyondblue to fund research into the links between depression, anxiety and physical illness - and to promote the findings to influence best practice - so that people who experience depression/anxiety and physical illness can receive effective, evidence-based treatment. beyondblue has supported six MJA supplements since 2000 and we're planning more including Depression and Substance Use and Depression and Recovery."

* Click here to download the whole beyondblue-MJA Supplement on Depression and Anxiety with Physical Illness
* To view the entire current issue of the Medical Journal of Australia, go to www.mja.com.au 
*Click the research titles below to view the individual research papers in the current supplement. 

For more information about beyondblue research, contact beyondblue's Research and Planning team on 03 9810 6100 or see the Research section of this website.


Depression and physical illness: more complex than simple comorbidity
David M Clarke

Depression, anxiety and their relationship with chronic diseases: a review of the epidemiology, risk and treatment evidence
David M Clarke, Kay C Currie

Is caring a health hazard? The mental health and vitality of carers of a person with a disability in Australia
Benjamin Edwards, Daryl J Higgins

Depressive symptoms in patients with chronic pain
Michael K Nicholas, Carissa M Coulston, Ali Asghari, Gin Singh Malhi

The role of post-traumatic stress disorder and depression in predicting disability after injury
Meaghan L O'Donnell, Alexander C Holmes, Mark C Creamer, Steven Ellen, Rodney Judson, Alexander C McFarlane, Derrick M Silove, Richard A Bryant

Medical morbidity and severity of depression in a large primary care sample of older Australians: the DEPS-GP project
Jon J Pfaff, Brian M Draper, Jane E Pirkis, Nigel P Stocks, John A Snowdon, Moira G Sim, Gerard J Byrne, Nicola T Lautenschlager, Leon A Flicker, Ngaire M Kerse, Robert D Goldney, Osvaldo P Almeida.

The influence of depression and anxiety on outcomes after an intervention for pre-diabetes
Michael Kyrios, Susan M Moore, Naomi Hackworth, Simone A Buzwell, Naomi Crafti, Christine Critchley, Elizabeth Hardie

The psychological aftermath of prostate cancer treatment choices: a comparison of depression, anxiety and quality of life outcomes over the 12 months following diagnosis
Jeremy W Couper, Anthony W Love, Judith V Dunai, Gillian M Duchesne, Sidney Bloch, Anthony J Costello, David W Kissane

Depression in advanced physical illness: diagnostic and treatment issues
Brian J Kelly, Jane Turner.

Anxiety and depression among long-term survivors of cancer in Australia: results of a population-based survey
Allison W Boyes, Afaf Girgis, Alison C Zucca, Christophe Lecathelinais

Is symptom burden a predictor of anxiety and depression in patients with cancer about to commence chemotherapy?
Sibilah J Breen, Carl M Baravelli, Penelope E Schofield, Michael Jefford, Patsy M Yates, Sanchia K Aranda