• Question: HI! I just wanted to ask you a quick question: how much does mental recovery affect physical recovery?

    Asked by Rory@skerriescc to Liudmila on 19 Nov 2020.
    • Photo: Liudmila Khokhlova

      Liudmila Khokhlova answered on 19 Nov 2020:

      Hi Rory,
      There is no question that mental state certainly has an effect on how quickly you can recover from an injury or disease. Obtaining exact numbers to see how much it affects is actually a bit tricky since many factors can be in play, and the recovery process is highly individual.

      But here is a couple of examples: heart attack patients diagnosed with depression were 54% more likely to be hospitalized the second time. Another study showed that the risk of complications after surgery (hip and knee replacement) was 17% greater among those diagnosed with moderate anxiety or depression prior to surgery. This group also had a 20% greater readmission rate to the hospital.

Comments

  • Photo: Rory@skerriescc

    Rory@skerriescc commented on :

    That’s really cool, but why do you think that is? Are they too sad or do they not care enough to take care of themselves? Could it also be something in the brain that affects recovery? It’s all very interesting and also very sad

    • Photo: Liudmila

      Liudmila commented on :

      Those are two exactly right questions. It is both. It’s harder for people with depression to stick to the prescribed treatment plan, they can forget to take medication on time, do exercises and so on. From the other side, depression may weaken the immune system, and make the risk of infection higher. It’s sad, but with the right treatment, including anti-depressants and therapy, that can be solved.