Telehealth Utilization for Chronic Illness and Depression

It's common to feel sad or discouraged after having a heart attack, receiving a cancer diagnosis, or trying to manage a chronic condition such as pain. You may face new limits on what you can do and feel stressed or worried about the results of treatment and the future. It can be difficult to adapt to a new reality and cope with the changes and ongoing treatment that comes with a diagnosis. Favorite activities, such as hiking or gardening, may be more difficult to do.

Temporary feelings of sadness are to be expected, but if these and other symptoms last more than a couple of weeks, you may have depression. Psychoanalysis for depression affects your ability to carry on with daily life and enjoy family, friends, work and leisure. 

The health effects of depression go beyond mood: Depression is a serious medical illness with many symptoms, including physical ones. Some symptoms of depression include:

• Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood

• Feeling hopeless or pessimistic

• Feeling irritable, easily frustrated, or restless

• Feeling guilty, worthless or helpless

• Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities.

• Decreased energy, fatigue, or feeling "slowed down"

• Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions.

• Difficulty sleeping, waking up early in the morning, or sleeping too much

• Changes in appetite or weight.

• Aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems without a clear physical cause that do not disappear even with treatment.

People with other chronic medical conditions are at higher risk for depression.

The same factors that increase the risk of depression in otherwise healthy people also increase the risk in people with other medical illnesses, especially if those illnesses are chronic (long-lasting or persistent). These risk factors include a personal or family history of depression or family members who have died by suicide.

However, some risk factors for depression are directly related to having another illness. For example, conditions such as Parkinson's disease and stroke cause changes in the brain. In some cases, these changes can play a direct role in depression. Anxiety and stress related to the illness can also trigger symptoms of depression.

Depression is common among people who suffer from chronic illnesses such as:

• Alzheimer disease

• Autoimmune diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, rheumatoid arthritis, and psoriasis.

• Cancer

• Coronary heart disease

• Diabetes

• Epilepsy

• HIV AIDS

• hypothyroidism

• Multiple sclerosis

• Parkinson's disease

• Stroke

Some people may experience symptoms of depression after being diagnosed with a medical illness. Those symptoms may lessen as you adjust to or treat the other condition. Certain medications used to treat the disease can also cause depression.

Research suggests that people who suffer from depression and another medical illness tend to have more severe symptoms of both illnesses. They may have more difficulty adjusting to their medical condition and may have higher medical costs than those without depression or a medical illness. Symptoms of depression may continue even when a person's physical health improves.

A collaborative care approach that includes physical and mental health care can improve overall health. Research has shown that treating depression and chronic illnesses together can help people better manage both their depression and chronic illnesses.

Children and Adolescents with Chronic Illnesses

Children and adolescents with chronic illnesses often face more challenges than their healthy peers as they navigate adolescence. Chronic illnesses can affect physical, cognitive, social and emotional development, and can take a toll on parents and siblings. These limitations put children and adolescents at greater risk than their healthy peers for developing mental illness.

Children and adolescents with chronic illnesses experience many forms of stress. Parents and health care providers should watch for signs of depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders (a group of conditions that can occur when someone has difficulty coping with a stressful life event) in youth and their families.

Telehealth for depression

Getting mental health care can be difficult when living with depression. The symptoms of depression make it difficult to get dressed, leave the house, enter a new building, and come face to face with a new person. Telehealth for depression can help alleviate these burdens for people with depression.

With telehealth therapy, you can connect with a compassionate mental health care provider over secure video chat. Using your smartphone, tablet, or computer, you can get telehealth for depression treatment.