Depression and long-term conditions

Depression and long-term conditions often go hand-in-hand, however recognising and treating depression at an early stage can help to improve quality of life for many people. This article will discuss a variety of long-term conditions and the impact they have on individual's physical and mental wellbeing. Depression can become a long-term condition in its own right and thus practitioners must be reminded that depression may have been prevalent before the physical illness or may have developed as a consequence of the impact of the condition. The article discusses the association between long-term physical and mental health and the impact of long-term conditions on individuals and society. It also highlights the commencement of long-term conditions from an early age, addresses policy issues in the management of these conditions and recent evidence for identifying depression in hospital settings.