- Talk therapies play a significant role in the treatment of depression, but the benefits may extend past the treatment of mental illness.
- There is a relationship between depression and cardiovascular disease that researchers are still seeking to understand.
- A study found that people with depression who saw depression improvement after psychotherapy also had a reduced risk for cardiovascular disease.
Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses, and it can harm other areas of health. Researchers are still working to understand the relationship between cardiovascular disease and depression and how the treatment of depression impacts cardiovascular disease outcomes.
A recent study published in the European Heart Journal examined how the treatment of depression via psychotherapies impacted cardiovascular disease outcomes.
The researchers found that participants with improved depression after psychotherapy treatment also saw a lower risk for new cardiovascular diseases, coronary heart disease, stroke, and all-cause mortality.
For example, people with certain chronic illnesses may be at an increased risk for depression. And vice versa, people with depression can be at a higher risk for other health problems like pain and type 2 diabetes.
Prompt treatment for depression is critical for the well-being of individuals, both mentally and physically.
Dr. Sarah-Nicole Bostan, clinical health psychologist and director of behavior change strategy at Signos, who was not involved…
Read the full article here