Is there a link between autoimmune diseases and mood disorders?

A study published by BMJ Mental Health finds that people with autoimmune diseases are twice as likely to suffer from mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder. Individuals diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, and Graves' disease have an increased risk of developing a mood disorder; this risk remains high, especially after accounting for other factors like income, age, and family history of psychiatric disorders.

For this research study, data from over 1.5 million people were used from another large-scale British health study, where people provided a history of their physical and mental health. From this, 37,808 participants reported living with an autoimmune condition, where 28.8% of them also reported being previously diagnosed with a mood disorder, compared to the 17.9% of the general population. Those who were more susceptible to developing a mood disorder were women with autoimmune diseases, affecting 31.6% compared with 20.7% among men.

"Together, these results support the hypothesis that exposure to chronic inflammation may be associated with a greater risk for affective disorders," stated the research team lead, Dr. Arish Mudra Rakshasa-Loots. Based on these results, having regular mental health screenings for individuals with autoimmune diseases, especially women with these diagnoses, may help in early detection and prevention of mental health conditions. 

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