Can Depression Lead to Anxiety?

In this short article I want to talk about depression and the role it might play in anxiety. Maybe you are beginning to experience excessive anxiety and can't quite put your hand on what might have caused it.

What I intend to cover in this article is first a look at depression. Then I investigate if whether or not anxiety can be attributed to depression, how you can recognise depression, its symptoms and some of the best ways to prevent depression
I would recommend reading the entire article, however if there are particular bits that interest you more than others you will be able to find them easily under the various headings
A look at depression
Depression is best described as feeling sad, unhappy or just down in the dumps. Nothing major there. Almost everyone feels this way at one stage or another for short periods of time.
However, true clinically diagnosed depression is a mood disorder in which the feelings I described above are experienced, but much more intense. Interfering with everyday life for days, weeks and sometimes longer
Some of the main contributing factors to depression can be:
• Sleeping problems
• Certain medications, e.g. Steroids
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Medical conditions, e.g. Cancer
• Stressful life events, e.g. Divorce, job loss, childhood abuse or breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend
Can depression be related to anxiety?
Absolutely. Although no one knows exactly why depression and anxiety are linked, a recent study showed 85% of those with major depression were also diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder while 35% had symptoms of a panic disorders. Anxiety and depression are known as the fraternal twins of mood disorders, because they so often go hand in hand.
As you can see, while anxiety and depression are two separate disorders, they are linked incredibly closely. It's a case of cause and effect. In this case the depression is the cause and anxiety is the effect. Two separate 'things' (disorders) but one acting as a stepping stone for the next.
Think of it as a well paying job and financial freedom. These are two separate 'things' but you can't have the effect (financial freedom) without the cause (a well paying job). For those who like analogies!
How to Recognise/Symptoms
Nearly everybody has an idea as to what depression is. In a nutshell, we all know it's when someone feels down or sad. But are we aware that people who have depression will usually see everything with a more negative attitude than others and are unable to imagine that any problem or situation can be solved in a positive way? What exactly are the main symptoms of clinical depression?
Below I have listed some of the main symptoms:
• Becoming withdrawn or isolated
• Finding it very difficult to concentrate
• Thought of death or suicide
• Trouble sleeping OR excessive sleeping
• Dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss
• Feelings of worthlessness, self hate and guilt
• Restlessness and irritability
• Sudden loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyed
NOTE: Depression can often appear as anger and discouragement, rather than feelings of sadness, as you might expect
Best ways to prevent depression
Depression is one of the most highly treatable medical conditions that there are. Some forms of depression may not be preventable due to it being triggered by a chemical malfunction in the brain. However, research confirms that depression may be alleviated, or sometimes prevented, with good health habits. As the saying goes, 'prevention is better than cure'.
Yes, you have probably heard this over and over before but to best prevent a depressed mood a proper diet and frequent exercise are essential. It's also important to take time out from work and your everyday life to relax and have fun, do what you really enjoy! Now you might be saying, 'I've heard all this before'. Well, have you tried it, have you stuck with it?! The fact that your reading this indicates to me that you haven't.
What you just read, if implemented correctly, will be enough to prevent depression and buy valium online in most cases. However if you have tried what I suggested, I mean really tried, and you find it doesn't do anything for you than, don't worry, maybe you need a little extra help from a professional.

Depression treatment enhanced program appears to reduce symptoms

Depression treatment and work productivity
Employees seeking treatment for depression who participated in a program that included a telephone outreach intervention had fewer symptoms, worked more hours and had greater job retention than participants receiving usual care, according to a study in the September 26 issue of JAMA.
Depression has enormous societal burdens, with annual U.S. economic costs of tens of billions of dollars due largely to productivity losses. Comparative cost-of-illness studies show that depression is among the most costly of all health problems to employers, according to background information in the article. Despite evidence that there are effective treatments, many depressed workers are untreated or inadequately treated. Employer-purchasers (those who purchase corporate health benefits) often do not invest in enhanced depression screening-treatment programs because of the uncertainty of the return-on-investment of such programs.
Philip S. Wang, M.D., Dr.P.H., of the National Institute of Mental Health, Rockville, Md., and colleagues examined the impact of a depression outreach-treatment program on the outcomes of depression symptom relief, job retention, sickness absence, and increased work productivity. The randomized controlled trial included 604 employees covered by a managed behavioral health plan who were identified in a 2-stage screening process as having significant depression. The telephonic outreach and care management program encouraged workers (n = 304) to enter outpatient treatment (psychotherapy and/or antidepressant medication), monitored treatment quality continuity, and attempted to improve treatment by giving recommendations to clinicians. Participants reluctant to enter treatment were offered a structured telephone cognitive behavioral psychotherapy. Three hundred participants received usual care.
The researchers found that measurements of depression severity were significantly lower in the intervention than in the usual care group by 6 months and at 12 months, and that patients in the intervention group were more likely to experience recovery (26.2 percent vs. 17.7 percent). Scores on the hours worked measure were significantly higher in the intervention than usual care group at 6 and 12 months. The data indicated that workers in the intervention group worked an average of two more hours per week than workers in the usual care group, which is equivalent to an annualized effect of more than two weeks of work. This overall effect was due to a higher rate of job retention (92.6 percent vs. 88.0 percent) and significantly more hours worked among employed respondents.
"The results suggest that enhanced depression care of workers has benefits not only on clinical outcomes but also on workplace outcomes," the authors write. "The financial value of the latter to employers in terms of recovered hiring, training, and salary costs suggests that many employers would experience a positive return on investment from outreach and enhanced treatment of depressed workers."
In an accompanying editorial, Kenneth B. Wells, M.D., M.P.H., and Jeanne Miranda, Ph.D., of the University of California, Los Angeles, comment on the challenge of depression treatment.
"Exactly how programs to improve depression care are implemented may affect the distribution of benefits – an important issue given evidence of disparities in quality of depression care and the potential for practice-based programs to overcome disparities in depression outcomes. Developers of interventions and policies should consider implications of their design for inclusion of underserved groups who may not seek behavioral health care. Despite the extensive efforts by Wang et al to reach general employees, the majority of persons had already inquired about outpatient care. Learning how to optimize personal and societal gains by improving access to quality depression care across diverse communities through employer, practice, and community-based programs and policy changes is a next agenda for evidence-based action. As a community participant in the Witness for Wellness program recently stated: ‘Depression is everybody’s business.’"

Depression increases cancer deaths

New research shows that depression can increase risk of dying among cancer patients. The findings highlight the importance of physician screening for depression among patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Maintaining a positive mental attitude has repeatedly been shown to also have a positive impact on health. The new study published in the November 15, 2009 issue of Cancer, reviewed research related to the effects of depression and survival among cancer patients.
Graduate student Jillian Satin, MA, of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada, and colleagues uncovered 26 studies with a total of 9417 patients to find that depression can increase risk of dying in cancer patients.
"We found an increased risk of death in patients who report more depressive symptoms than others and also in patients who have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder compared to patients who have not," said Satin. The risk of dying from cancer was twenty five and thirty nine percent for depressive symptoms, and minor or major depression respectively.
The researchers took into account other clinical characteristics that could account for cancer deaths in their analysis, still finding that depression plays a role in the risk of dying from cancer. The study emphasizes the importance of screening and treating patients with cancer for depression that can increase the chances of dying.

FDA Approves Generic Effexor for Depression Treatment

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first generic version of Effexor XR extended release capsules (venlafaxine hydrochloride). The antidepressant, used for depression treatment, will be manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals, based in North Wales, PA.

Effexor XR is used for the treatment of major depressive disorder. Symptoms include feelings of sadness, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, and hopelessness. It is also indicated for the treatment of generalized anxiety, social anxiety and panic disorders.
“The approval of this widely used antidepressant is another example of the FDA’s efforts to increase access to safe and effective generic drugs,” said Keith Webber, Ph.D., deputy director of the Office of Pharmaceutical Science in the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
“Access to treatments for depression is important because depression can interfere with a person’s daily life and routine, which can significantly affect relationships with family and friends.”
Venlafaxine hydrochloride extended-release capsules will be available as 37.5 milligram, 75 milligram, and 150 milligram capsules.
Prescribing information for the generic version of Effexor XR may differ from that of the brand name because of patents held by Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, the FDA said. But the same safety warnings will apply.
Generic Effexor XR's label will include a warning that antidepressants may raise the risk of suicidal thoughts or tendencies among some children, teens and young adults within the first few months of treatment, the agency said. The warning will also note that depression and other serious mental illnesses are the most important causes of suicidal thoughts or actions.
The shipments of the generic Effexor XR are expected to start on July 1st as per the terms of a 2006 agreement with Wyeth.