Depression and Physical Illness

This book details the evidence linking depression with major health conditions, such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease.

Andrew Steptoe (Edited by)

9780521603607, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 26 October 2006

434 pages, 9 b/w illus. 21 tables
24.4 x 17 x 2.2 cm, 0.69 kg

'… this book is well worth considering. It gives helpful guidance to health professionals of all kinds on improving the health care of patients suffering from a wide range of disorders.' Journal of Mental Health

Depression and physical illness are intimately related. Depressed mood is thought to contribute to the development and progression of some illnesses, while physical illness can in turn increase the risk of depression. This book provides a critical overview of the evidence linking depression with several major health conditions, including coronary heart disease, diabetes, cancer, chronic pain, disability, chronic fatigue and obesity. It also explores the biological and behavioural processes underlying the association, discussing the role of neuroendocrine, immunological and inflammatory pathways, and the relationship between depression and health behaviours such as smoking, physical activity and adherence to medical advice. It combines a thorough analysis of the clinical, biological and epidemiological data with guidance to health professionals and patients on how to manage depression in people suffering from physical illness, pointing the way to an integrated approach to health care.

Part I. Introduction to Depression and its Determinants: 1. Depression in the medically ill Francis Creed and Chris Dickens
2. Psychosocial factors, depression and illness Stephen Stansfeld and Farhat Rasul
Part II. Depression and Specific Health Problems: 3. Depression and the development of coronary heart disease Andrew Steptoe
4. Depression and prognosis in cardiac patients Heather Lett, Andrew Sherwood, Lana Watkins and James Blumenthal
5. The management of depression in patients with coronary heart disease Robert Carney and Kenneth Freedland
6. Depression and physical disability Brenda Penninx
7. Chronic pain and depression: twin burdens of adaptation Christina Van Puymbroeck, Alex Zautra and Peter-Panagioti Harakas
8. The interrelationship of depression and diabetes Dominique L. Musselman, Angela Bowling, Natalie Gilles, Hannah Larsen, Ephi Betan and Lawrence S. Phillips
9. Depression and chronic fatigue Peter D. White
10. Cancer and depression Alice E. Simon, Steven C. Palmer and James C. Coyne
11. Depression and obesity Lucy Cooke and Jane Wardle
Part III. Biological and behavioural processes
12. Inflammation, sickness behaviour, and depression Robert Dantzer, Nathalie Castanon, Jacques Lestage, Maite Moreau and Lucile Capuron
13. The hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis: cortisol, DHEA, mental and behavioural function Ian Goodyer
14. Depression and immunity: biological and behavioral mechanisms Michael Irwin
15. Smoking and depression Jon D. Kassel and Benjamin L. Hankin
16. Depression and physical activity Andrew Steptoe
17. Adherence to medical advice Douglas A Raynor, Rena R. Wing and Suzanne Phelan
Part IV. Conclusions: 18. Integrating clinical with biobehavioural studies of depression and illness Andrew Steptoe.

Subject Areas: Clinical psychology [MMJ], Psychiatry [MMH]