A new study from the University of Edinburgh reveals that people living with two or more long-term physical health conditions face a much higher risk of developing depression.
Certain combinations of illnesses, especially heart disease and diabetes, can more than double the chance of being diagnosed with depression in the future.
Researchers analyzed health data from over 142,000 adults aged 37 to 73 who had at least one chronic condition but no history of depression.
They found that those with multiple illnesses-including lung diseases like asthma and COPD, liver and bowel problems, and for women, joint and bone issues such as arthritis-were more likely to develop depression over the next ten years.
About one in twelve people with many health problems developed depression, compared to one in twenty-five without physical conditions. Experts say these findings show the need for healthcare systems to treat mental and physical health together, rather than separately.
Lead author Lauren DeLong said the study is a first step toward understanding how physical and mental health are connected, urging more research to improve care for people with multiple illnesses.
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