Depression as bad as smoking, study says

The study, published this week in the British Journal of Psychiatry, investigated whether people with depression or anxiety were more likely to die within a three to six year period than those who did not have either condition. More than 60,000 men and women took part in the research carried out in Norway.

The researchers found that those who were depressed were one and a half times more likely to die from any cause than those who were not depressed.

This increased risk is similar to the risk seen in smokers.

People with moderate levels of anxiety did not have an increased risk of death. However, people with very high levels of anxiety were more likely to die, as were people with very low levels of anxiety.

The researchers explain these inconsistent findings by suggesting that people with very high anxiety are more prone to stress, but people with very low level anxiety may be less inclined to seek help for health conditions.

Also, people who were both depressed and anxious were at a lower risk of death than those who had depression alone.

At the beginning of the study, each person was asked to complete a questionnaire about their mood and how they had been feeling during the previous two weeks. The questionnaire focused on the psychological symptoms of depression and anxiety such as irritability or a lack of confidence, rather than physical symptoms like trouble sleeping. From this, the researchers were able to determine if the person was depressed or anxious.

The researchers also asked each participant about their health and lifestyle, for example if they had any health conditions, how much exercise they did, if they smoked and their level of education. This information was taken into account when analysing the results.

Each person was followed-up by the researchers on average four years later by looking at national death registries to see who had died.

Dr Sneh Khemka, medical director at Bupa International, said: “This study highlights a very real problem within our society. Mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety are often stigmatised and not given the importance they deserve. There is a very real health risk for people with depression and some levels of anxiety that must be taken seriously and not simply swept under the carpet because it is an embarrassing subject to talk about.

“What is also interesting about this study is the relationship between anxiety and death. The results suggest that a little anxiety can be good for you, but that if this anxiety increases it can negatively affect your health.

“If you are depressed or very anxious, get help and advice from your doctor. You may want to try relaxation techniques, exercise or counselling; sometimes just talking to your friends and family can help.”