A new experiment shows how differently antidepressants affect people with ot without physical health issues.
This study looks at whether antidepressants are effective and safe for people who have both depression and physical health issues like cancer, diabetes, or heart problems.
About 20% of people with physical health problems also experience depression.
How it was detected
The researchers reviewed studies from around the world to find the answer.
They looked at 52 high-quality studies that covered 27 different physical health issues, such as cancer, heart diseases, and neurological problems.
The results show that antidepressants work as effectively and safely for people with both depression and physical health problems as they do for those with only depression.
Why it's important
While there may be a slightly higher risk of side effects with antidepressants, overall, they are considered safe for people with physical health issues.
This is important because depression can severely affect the quality of life, especially for people already dealing with physical health problems.
The researchers hope that these findings will guide treatment guidelines, making it more common to use antidepressants alongside other treatments for these patients.
There's still more research to be done in this area to understand how antidepressants may impact other symptoms of physical health problems when combined with depression.
