Why is depression treatment so important for people with other chronic illnesses?
• The treatment of one condition can affect the course of other conditions, so it is important to treat all problems simultaneously. • Patients who are depressed have more trouble taking care of themselves and following their prescribed care regimens and often have worse physical symptoms than patients who are not depressed. Likewise, patients who have chronic medical conditions often have worse symptoms of depression and respond less well to depression treatment. • Depressed patients are more likely to have unhealthy behaviors, such as smoking, overeating, and avoiding exercise. Helping such patients stop smoking, eat healthfully, and get enough exercise is essential to improving their health. • Depressed patients need more help adjusting to life with a chronic illness and accepting their need to take medicines or carry out other lifelong self-care tasks. Helping them view their situations more positively can also help them feel better. • Some patients may have trouble focusing on the