beyondblue: the national depression initiative and Arthritis Australia have developed this fact sheet to raise awareness of the risks and impact of depression in people with arthritis.

WHAT is Arthritis?

Arthritis is a name for over 100 conditions that cause damage to the joints, usually resulting in joint pain and stiffness. Arthritis can affect many different parts of the joint and nearly every joint in the body. In Australia, nearly one in five people has arthritis. Many people think arthritis is a condition that affects people when they get older. In fact, two out of every three people with arthritis are between 15 and 60 years old.

WHAT is depression?

Depression is very common. Around one million Australian adults live with depression each year. Depression is not just
a low mood or feeling sad, but a serious condition that needs treatment. People with depression generally feel sad, down or miserable most of the time. They find it hard to engage in or be interested in normal day-to-day activities. Depression has serious effects on physical as well as mental health.

How do you know if a person is depressed?

A person may be depressed, if for a period of more than two weeks they experience:

1. 1. Feeling sad, down or miserable most of the time, OR
2. Loss of interest or pleasure in most of their usual activities

AND experienced a number of the following:

• weight gain or loss
• disturbed sleep
• feelings of agitation and restlessness
• slowed movement and reactions
• tiredness or loss of energy
• feeling worthless
• feeling guilty for no real reason
• poor concentration, indecisiveness
• recurrent thoughts of death, thinking about suicide
• bodily discomfort or pain in the absence of a physiological cause
• feelings of stress and anxiety
• feelings of confusion
• memory disturbance.

Causes of depression

Depression has a number of causes which are common to people of all ages, including genetic factors, ongoing stress, social isolation, physical illness and drug and alcohol use.

WHAT is THE link between depression And Arthritis?

Up to two thirds of people with arthritis say their condition has affected them emotionally. Many people with arthritis are frightened by the impact arthritis might have on their everyday life and their future. People living with persistent pain are four times more likely to experience depression or anxiety than people living without pain.

Having arthritis can result in a loss of independence, self-esteem, the ability to work and continue social or recreational activities. These losses are risk factors for experiencing depression.

Living with arthritis can place stress on relationships. Pain and tiredness may make connecting with family members and friends seem like an effort. Intimate relationships can also be affected.

It is not unusual for younger people to feel especially angry or depressed at being diagnosed with a disease that is mistakenly thought to affect only ‘old’ people.

Depression can make it hard for people to manage their arthritis effectively if they can’t find the energy to exercise, take medication regularly, keep appointments and eat healthily.

WHAT Treatments Are There For depression And Arthritis?

There are effective treatments for both depression and arthritis. A co-ordinated approach to treatment can have benefits for both conditions. For example, people with arthritis and mild depression may find that regular physical activity improves depressed moods and also helps control joint pain and stiffness. More severe types of depression may require different types of treatment, including:

• medication to relieve the symptoms of depression
• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to teach people to think realistically about common difficulties, helping them to change their thought patterns and the way they react to certain situations.
• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) to help people find new ways to get along with others and to resolve losses, changes and conflict in relationships.

An important part of managing depression and arthritis is seeing
a doctor regularly to check that treatments are working effectively.

WHAT Can you do To Help yourself?

If you think you might have depression:

• seek help as early as possible from a doctor or other health professional (for example, psychiatrist or psychologist)
• get involved in social activities
• do some regular exercise
• learn about depression and arthritis
• eat healthily and include a wide variety of nutritious foods
• achieve and maintain a healthy weight
• limit alcohol intake
• get help and support from family and friends.

Things To remember

• Depression and arthritis are both common and treatable.
• With the right treatment, most people recover from depression.
• Seek help early – the sooner the better.
• Depression is an illness, not a weakness, and people shouldn’t feel ashamed to seek help.

Related articles

• Anxiety, Depression Often Go Hand-in-Hand with Arthritis (nlm.nih.gov)
• Anxiety Or Depression Common Among Aging Adult Americans With Arthritis (medicalnewstoday.com)
• Anxiety, Depression Often Go Hand-in-Hand With Arthritis (news.health.com)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis and Depression (theadventuresofarthritisnfibromyalgia.wordpress.com)
• The Correlation Between Ageing and Depression (kellybrewster.wordpress.com)
• hip pain sitting : Precisely how to remove Arthritis Hip Discomfort Correctly (oleole.com)
• hip locking after sitting – Exactly how to eliminate Rheumatoid arthritis Cool Ache Properly (oleole.com)
• Basal Joint Arthritis and Receiving Social Security Disability (socialsecurityhome.com)
• Arthritis: 1/3 Of Patients Also Suffer From Anxiety, Depression (inquisitr.com)
• Degenerative Arthritis and Receiving Social Security Disability (socialsecurityhome.com)