The Impact of Depression Types on Health Risks
A recent study highlights the importance of depression type in determining the risk of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Over seven years, researchers followed 5,794 adults participating in the Netherlands Epidemiology of Obesity (NEO) study. None of the participants had diabetes or cardiovascular diseases at the beginning of the study. Detailed questionnaires were conducted to assess depression symptoms, identifying two main types of depression: melancholic depression and atypical depression associated with energy.
Health Effects of Atypical Depression
The findings suggest that individuals with “atypical depression associated with energy” are 2.7 times more likely to develop type 2 diabetes compared to those without depression symptoms. This type of depression is characterized by fatigue, increased sleep, and heightened appetite. Interestingly, this type of depression was not linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases.
Researchers explained that the biological causes behind this type of depression might be related to disruptions in inflammatory and metabolic processes, affecting overall cardiovascular and metabolic health.
Health Effects of Melancholic Depression
On the other hand, participants with “melancholic depression” were 1.5 times more likely to develop cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attacks and strokes, compared to those without depression. However, they did not face a significant risk of developing type 2 diabetes.
Melancholic depression is characterized by symptoms like early waking and loss of appetite, with no observed disruptions in inflammatory and metabolic processes in these patients, indicating biochemical differences in how different types of depression relate to cardiovascular health.
Towards Precision Psychiatry
Dr. Yuri Milanese, the lead researcher, emphasized the importance of understanding these differences in providing more precise and personalized healthcare for patients. This approach calls for considering the physical links with psychological patterns to improve the treatment of both mental and physical illnesses.
This approach aligns with the concept of “precision psychiatry,” which aims to provide individualized treatment tailored to each patient’s physical and mental health condition, enhancing recovery chances and improving quality of life.
The Need for Integrated Prevention and Treatment
Dr. Chiara Fabri commented on the importance of preventing and treating physical diseases in people with depression. This is a health priority, especially with the expected 10% increase in diabetes cases by 2050 in the European region, according to the International Diabetes Federation.
This study underscores the need to improve prevention methods, early diagnosis, continuous monitoring, and treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases in individuals with depression symptoms.
Conclusion
The study highlights the importance of identifying the type of depression in understanding the associated health risks, as “atypical depression associated with energy” increases the risk of diabetes, while melancholic depression is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases. This indicates the necessity of adopting a comprehensive and integrated approach to treating depression, considering both physical and psychological effects, which enhances treatment effectiveness and improves patients’ quality of life.