Antidepressants benefit physically ill patients

Researchers from King's Health Partners Academic Health Sciences Centre have found that antidepressants are effective against depression in patients suffering from physical illnesses. As part of a Cochrane Review, the researchers found the drugs were more effective than placebos at treating depression in these patients. One of the most neglected areas of healthcare research is the effects of physical illness on an individual's mental health. Research suggests that more than ten per cent of patients suffering from physical diseases also suffer from depression. For reasons that are not entirely clear, depression may amplify the symptoms of physical disease and increase the risk of these patients dying. Studies suggest that doctors are less likely to prescribe antidepressants to people who are physically ill because they are unsure if they are helpful for these patients. Therefore, it is important to know whether antidepressants can be effective in people with physical illness.