Was mortality higher among those with depression?

Was mortality higher among those with depression?

• A. No, higher in non-depressed
• B. Yes, higher in depressed
• C. No difference
• D. Not enough data

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that depression is linked to a higher risk of death compared with not having depression. This shows up in many studies as higher all-cause mortality among people with depression, even after accounting for age, sex, and other risk factors. The increased risk comes from a mix of factors: lifestyle (more smoking, inactivity, poorer diet), greater burden of chronic illnesses (like cardiovascular disease and diabetes), and biological changes (inflammation, stress-system dysregulation) that can worsen health and treatment adherence. Because this pattern is repeatedly observed, the best conclusion is that mortality is higher among those with depression.

The main idea here is that depression is linked to a higher risk of death compared with not having depression. This shows up in many studies as higher all-cause mortality among people with depression, even after accounting for age, sex, and other risk factors. The increased risk comes from a mix of factors: lifestyle (more smoking, inactivity, poorer diet), greater burden of chronic illnesses (like cardiovascular disease and diabetes), and biological changes (inflammation, stress-system dysregulation) that can worsen health and treatment adherence. Because this pattern is repeatedly observed, the best conclusion is that mortality is higher among those with depression.