Depression And Other Mental Disorders

Depression can exist alongside nearly any psychiatric disorder. Many of the mentally ill experience feelings of isolation and despair, which lead to depression. For other illnesses, such as borderline personality disorder, depression is actually one of several symptoms.

Many depression patients (around 70%) have noticeable anxiety problems, and in turn, many patients with anxiety disorders experience depression. The correlation between depression and anxiety is so great, that many of the newer anti-depressants provide some anxiety relief and were devised with that goal in mind (Serzone (Nefazodone)and some of the SSRIs fall into this category). Also, some anti-anxiety medications are used to treat depression.

There's also a strong correlation between addiction and depression. The relationship between them can vary from one individual to another. Some are depressed, and then abuse drugs and/or alcohol as a sort of self-medication, to make themselves feel better. Others, as a result of the addiction and its detrimental effects, become depressed over time. The same is true of eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa or bulimia.

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