DEPRESSION

Chronic Illnesses and Depression

[Institution Name]Chronic Illnesses and Depression

Introduction

Chronic illnesses carry out different conditions of stress and depression stigma. Moreover, illness intrusiveness in relationship with stress, depression stigma and illness intrusiveness leave a long lasting disturbing impact on a person's quality of life. It is the result of suffering and pain of the disease or illness a patient is facing in his life.

We are going to discuss the effect of chronic diseases on the life of people. Relationship between Psycho-social variables and neuropsychological effects of chronic illnesses will also be our focus of discussion.

Discussion

Chronic illness lasts for a very long time, and most of the times are not curable. Control and prevention of chronic illness is possible with some medication, diet and exercises. People suffering from chronic illness are uncomfortable adjusting with their disease, which causes pain, and discomfort to them. They are usually dependant on other people to fulfill their needs, and for this reason, they go into depression stigma and state of stress. The uncomfortable conditions of the patient make him feel sad and hopeless in his life.

HIV/AIDS and diabetes are examples of such chronic diseases that, in the long term, lead to a stressful life of a person. These diseases are very common these days, yet the patient suffering from them is still unable to tackle the stigma these diseases. They are more likely to create stressing factors for the patient than any other external factors of depression. It is estimated that patients with signs of depression who are suffering from chronic disease are approximately one-third of the total number of patients with depression problems. Therefore, it is easy to say that chronic conditions of a patient act as triggers of depression stigma and stress. This is a biological and psychological effect that illness causes stress and uncomforting conditions for a patient, and eventually leads to illness intrusiveness if a disease is long lasting.

HIV/AIDS and diabetes are two common diseases that cause fatigue and disturb the social life of the patient. Depression and stress can increase the pain and suffering of the patients and they feel more uncomfortable in living a quality life. They lose their moral and energy in fighting with their disease and most of the times create trouble for other people around them.

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is the main cause of AIDS and scientific researches prove that there are three main causes of the HIV infection to be a reason for AIDS. These causes are sexual transmission, transmission through blood and lastly transmission through pregnancy. Causes of diabetes depend on its type. Common causes include defects in pancreas, genetic functions, and hormone imbalance and cytomegalovirus infections.

According to a research by Devins (2010), “Illness intrusiveness is a common, underlying determinant of quality of life in people affected by chronic disease. Illness intrusiveness results from disease- and treatment-induced disruptions to lifestyles and activities”. Devins concludes his research with the fact that Illness Intrusiveness Rating Scale (IIRS) can effectively measure the extent of disease and treatment related factors that ...