Study finds the link between autoimmune conditions and mental health issues, women at higher risk of facing mood disorder

A recent study by a group of researchers from the University of Edinburgh, UK, has found a link between autoimmune conditions and mental health risks. 

An individual experiencing an autoimmune condition would face damage to organs and tissues as the immune system mistakenly attacks them. Experts have now found that people with autoimmune conditions are at double the risk of experiencing persistent mental health issues. 

The study which is published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Mental Health, also observed that women faced a higher mental health risk when compared to men having the same conditions. 

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The study looked at six autoimmune disorders that included rheumatoid arthritis (affects joints), inflammatory bowel disease and lupus, which can damage kidneys and brain among other organs.

"Overall, the risk of affective disorders among people living with autoimmune conditions was nearly twice that of the general population," the authors wrote.

For the purpose of the study, 15.6 lakh people's data were analysed of which 37,808 people were reported to be having autoimmune conditions.

The authors mentioned that a diagnosis of mood disorder was found to be prevalent among 29 per cent of the participants affected by an autoimmune condition, compared to the general population (18 per cent). Similarly, depression and anxiety were prevalent among 25.5 per cent and 21 per cent of the autoimmune-affected, compared to 15 per cent and 12.5 per cent in the general population. 

The result of the analysis suggested that mood disorders were seen to be significantly and consistently higher among women (32 per cent), compared to men (21 per cent) having the same health conditions. Researchers cautioned that being an observational study, the results do not allow to establish a cause-and-effect link.

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