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FACT SHEET 27

Depression and arthritis

F e fat www.beyondblue.org.au    beyondblue info line 1300 22 4636 of 2

WHAT iS ArTHriTiS?

 Arthritis is a name or over 100 conditions that cause damage

to the joints, usually resulting in joint pain and stiness. Arthritiscan aect many dierent parts o the joint and nearly every joint

in the body. In Australia, nearly one in fve people has arthritis.

Many people think arthritis is a condition that aects 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 common and aects up to one million people in

 Australia each year. Depression is not just a low mood or eeling

sad, but a serious condition that needs treatment. People with

depression generally eel sad, down or miserable most o the

time. They fnd it hard to engage in or be interested in normal

day-to-day activities. Depression has serious eects on physical  

as well as mental health.

How do you know if a person is depressed?

 A person may be depressed, i or a period o more than two

weeks they experience:

1. Feeling sad, down or miserable most o the time,

OR

2. Loss o interest or pleasure in most o their usual activities

 AND experienced some o the ollowing symptoms:

• weight gain or loss

• disturbed sleep

• eelings o agitation and restlessness

• slowed movement and reactions

• tiredness or loss o energy

• eeling worthless

• eeling guilty or no real reason

• poor concentration, indecisiveness

• recurrent thoughts o death, thinking about suicide

• bodily discomort or pain in the absence o aphysiological cause

• eelings o stress and anxiety

• eelings o conusion

• memory disturbance.

CAuSES oF dEprESSion

Depression has a number o causes which are common to

people o all ages, including genetic actors, ongoing stress,

social isolation, physical illness and drug and alcohol use.

WHAT iS THE link bETWEEn dEprESSion

 And ArTHriTiS?

Up to two thirds o people with arthritis say their condition

has aected them emotionally. Many people with arthritis are

rightened by the impact arthritis might have on their everyday

lie and their uture. People living with persistent pain are our

times more likely to experience depression or anxiety than

people living without pain.

Having arthritis can result in a loss o independence, sel esteem,

the ability to work and continue social or recreational activities.

 These losses are risk actors or experiencing depression.

Living with arthritis can place stress on relationships. Pain and

tiredness may make connecting with amily members and riends

seem like an eort. Intimate relationships can also be aected.

It is not unusual or younger people to eel especially angry or

depressed at being diagnosed with a disease that is mistakenly

thought to aect only ‘old’ people.

Depression can make it hard or people to manage their

arthritis eectively i they can’t fnd the energy to exercise, takemedication regularly, keep appointments and eat healthily.

 beyondblue: the national depression initiative and Arthritis Australia

have developed this act sheet to raise awareness o the risks and impact

o depression in people with arthritis.

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FACT SHEET 27

Depression and arthritis

F e fat www.beyondblue.org.au    beyondblue info line 1300 22 46362 of 22 of 2

WHAT TrEATmEnTS ArE THErE For

dEprESSion And ArTHriTiS?

 There are eective treatments or both depression and arthritis.

 A co-ordinated approach to treatment can have benefts or

both conditions. For example, people with arthritis and mild

depression may fnd that regular physical activity improves

depressed moods and also helps control joint pain and

stiness. More severe types o depression may require dierent

types o treatment, including:• medication to relieve the symptoms o depression

• Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) to learn to identiy and

change negative thought patterns

• Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) to assist with the acceptance

o having arthritis and the need or long-term treatment. This

can also help improve relationships with amily and riends.

 An important part o managing depression and arthritis is

seeing a doctor regularly to check that treatments are working

eectively.

WHAT CAn you do To HElp yourSElF?

I you think you might have depression:

• seek help as early as possible rom a doctor or other health

proessional (or 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 o nutritious oods

• achieve and maintain a healthy weight

• limit alcohol intake

• get help and support rom amily and riends.

THingS To rEmEmbEr

• Depression and arthritis are both common and treatable.

• With the right treatment, most people recover rom

depression.

• Seek help early – the sooner the better.

• Depression is an illness, not a weakness, and people

shouldn’t eel ashamed to seek help.

More inormation and advice about arthritis and

associated conditions can be obtained rom the

 Arthritis Australia website: www.arthritisaustralia.com.au 

where there are links to state or territory ofces or

Freecall 1800 011 041

For inormation and advice about depression and available

treatments go to the beyondblue website:

www.beyondblue.org.au or call the beyondblue ino line

1300 22 4636 (local call cost).

© beyondblue: the national depression initiative , 2007.

PO Box 6100, Hawthorn West VIC 3122

 T: (03) 9810 6100 beyondblue ino line 1300 22 4636

F: (03) 9810 6111

E: bb@beyondblue.org.au

W: www.beyondblue.org.au

 This act sheet was produced in

association with Arthritis Australia