Depression and Chronic and Autoimmune Diseases

Focusing on the brighter side of life, while not bad advice, does not account for the numerous biochemical malfunctions that prevent those with depression from doing just that. The impact of depression extends beyond disrupting work and personal relationships. It also can influence the development of a whole bounty of serious illnesses. Stress, depression, and the persistent immune response of inflammation can influence the development of chronic and autoimmune illnesses that permanently alter the direction of a person’s life. With stakes as high as these, the manner in which stress and depression manifests in the body to impact the immune system cannot be underestimated.

For this Application Assignment, review this week’s Learning Resources including the Chronic Disease and Autoimmune Disease sections of the “Stress, The Immune System, Chronic Illness, and Your Body” handout. Then select an illness that has a high co-occurrence with depression. Finally, consider teaching strategies that may reduce the effects of the stress related-illness.

The Assignment (3–5 page APA-formatted essay)

• Describe the connection between depression and the illness you selected and explain the factors of the disease you selected that account for its high co-occurrence with depression.
• Explain the role of stress hormones and inflammation in this depression related illness
• Explain at least three teaching strategies that might reduce the effects of the stress related-illness you select.
• Explain the methods you might use to encourage the adoption these strategies to reduce the effects of the stress related-illness.

Support your Application Assignment with specific references to all resources used in its preparation. You are to provide a reference list for all resources, including those in the Learning Resources for this course.

Required Readings

Baum, A., Lorduy, K., & Jenkins, F. J. (2011). The molecular biology of stress: Cellular defense, immune response, and aging. In R. J. Contrada & A. Baum (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (pp. 87–100). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Bekkouche, N. S., Holmes, S., Whittaker, K. S., & Krantz, D. S. (2011). Stress and the heart: Psychosocial stress and coronary heart disease. In R. J. Contrada & A. Baum (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (p. 394). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

• Read the section titled “Psychosocial Traits Associated With Chronic Stress and CAD”

Gatchel, R. J., Howard, K., & Haggard, R. (2011). Pain: The biopsychosocial perspective. In R. J. Contrada & A. Baum (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (pp. 461–474). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Grant, K. E., McMahon, S. D., Duffy, S. N., Taylor, J. J., & Compas, B. E. (2011). Stressors and mental health problems in childhood and adolescence. In R. J. Contrada & A. Baum (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (pp. 359–372). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Gutman, D. A., & Nemeroff, C. B. (2011). Stress and depression. In R. J. Contrada & A. Baum (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (pp. 345–357). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

Perez, G. K., Cruess, D. G., & Kalichman, S. C. (2011). Effects of stress on health in HIV/AIDS. In R. J. Contrada & A. Baum (Eds.), The handbook of stress science: Biology, psychology, and health (p. 451). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.

• Read the section titled “Depression Among PLWHA”

National Institute of Mental Health. (2008, July 29). Errant stress/immune indicators detected in depression-prone women’s sweat. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/science-news/2008/errant-s…

Wilson, D. R., & Warise, L. (2008). Cytokines and their role in depression. Perspectives in Psychiatric Care, 44(4), 285–289.
Retrieved from the Walden Library using the Academic Search Complete database.

Laureate Education, Inc. (2012). Stress, the immune system, chronic illness, and your body. Unpublished document.

• Read the sections titled “Stress, Depression, and the Immune Response,” “Chronic Illness,” and “Autoimmune Disease.”

American Autoimmune Related Diseases Association, Inc. (n.d.). List of autoimmune and autoimmune-related diseases. Retrieved from http://www.aarda.org/autoimmune-information/list-o…

National Institutes of Health. (2012). Health information. Retrieved from http://www.health.nih.gov/

National Institute of Mental Health. (n.d.). Health topics: Depression. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/i…

Required Media

Hernan, S. (Producer). (2010, November 1). Stress, inflammation, and depression [Audio podcast]. Neuroscene. Retrieved from http://neuroscene.com/?p=225
Used with permission of NeuroScene. All rights reserved.

Transcript for Hernan ‘s Stress, Inflammation, and Dpression Podcast

National Institute of Mental Health. (Producer). (2010, November 23). NIMH investigators talk about new evidence that suggests exercise and positive environment can help hedge against stress related depression [Audio podcast]. NIH Radio. Retrieved from http://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/media/2010/positive-m…