ABSTRACT
We have seen that depression impacts all areas of a person’s life. Not only is a person’s mental well-being affected, but also their physical health. This chapter then explores just how depression interferes with a person’s health and well-being. The topics I shall cover in this chapter will be wide-ranging, including physical health and aspects of social functioning. The levels of impairment seen in depression concerning daily functioning are on par in many cases with physical health conditions such as cardiovascular disease. Depression is now recognized as a significant cause of disability. It is essential to acknowledge that the impact of depression on a person’s life will vary according to when a person first experiences a depressive episode—in other words, the initial onset of depression—as well as how persistent the symptoms are, the success of prescribed treatments, and recovery and relapse rates. All these will vary markedly across individuals. In this sense, like all conditions, it is essential to remember that no two individuals will experience depression in the same way. As such, the impact will vary greatly. An additional source of variability is the presence of a physical health problem. In such cases, impact on living is often higher. Before we examine some of the physical health conditions associated with depression, we will see how depression affects a person’s ability to perform in different social roles.
