Minor Depression Can Become Major Problem

FRIDAY, Aug. 19 (HealthDay News) -- New research suggests a minor case of the blues could be a major cause for alarm: People with mild depression appear to be six times more likely to fall into major depression.

It''s not entirely clear what the new findings mean about treatment. But they should at least give doctors an extra reason to keep an eye on patients who seem to be having a difficult time emotionally, said study co-author Joshua Fogel, an assistant professor of behavioral science at Brooklyn College, in New York City.

In view of its possible long-term effects, "minor depression is not so minor," Fogel added.

Mental-health specialists consider people to have minor depression if they''re experiencing some -- but not all or nearly all -- of the many symptoms of depression, including sadness, apathy and disruptions in sleep and eating patterns, for at least two weeks.

According to the researchers, there''s plenty of disagreement over what percentage of the population has minor depression, with estimates ranging from 2 percent to 23 percent. By one estimate, 8 percent to 16 percent of people over the age of 65 have minor depression.

Despite the prospect that large numbers of people suffer from minor depression, doctors don''t focus on it, preferring to simply look at patients as "depressed or not depressed," Fogel said.

In the new study, Fogel and a colleague examined statistics from a 1981-1996 medical study of more than 1,600 Baltimore-area residents. They are to present their findings Friday at the American Psychological Association annual meeting, in Washington D.C.

The researchers found that the 101 people with a history of minor depression -- diagnosed in either 1981 or during the preceding year -- were six times more likely than individuals without such a history to develop major depression over the 15-year period that followed.

In total, about 19 percent of those diagnosed with minor depression early in the study were diagnosed with major depression later on.

The study also looked at how illness might contribute to major depression. People who had strokes were nearly 10 times more likely to suffer from major depression, the researchers found. However, a number of other disorders -- including diabetes, heart disorders, arthritis and cancer -- showed no links with depression.

Based on these findings, Fogel believes individuals suffering from minor depression "should consider going to someone, whether it''s their primary-care physician or counselor, to seek treatment while it''s somewhat minor, rather than face the risk of having it turn into something major."

Brooks Gump, an associate professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Oswego, recommended that doctors keep an eye on patients with minor depression and perhaps set up follow-up appointments to check on their progress. But Gump, who''s familiar with the findings, added that the new study doesn''t shed light on what kind of treatment, if any, is best for people with minor depression.

"Nothing in this study would suggest a better prognosis for those treated with mild depression relative to those not treated until the onset of major depression," Gump said.

More information

Learn about types of depression from the National Institutes of Health.

SOURCES: Joshua Fogel, Ph.D., assistant professor, behavioral science, Brooklyn College, City University of New York, New York City; Brooks B. Gump, Ph.D., M.P.H., associate professor, psychology and director, Social and Environmental Medicine Laboratory, State University of New York at Oswego; Aug. 19, 2005, presentation, American Psychological Association annual meeting, Washington D.C.