Depression and immune function

<p><a href="/facts/Major_depressive_disorder/l2lQeWqr">Major depression</a> is often associated  or correlated with <a href="/facts/Immune_system/HRCTf1pb">immune function</a> dysregulation, and the two are thought to share similar physiological pathways and <a href="/facts/Risk_factor/N0YTUyer">risk factors</a>. Primarily seen through increased <a href="/facts/Inflammation/Ura86MIy">inflammation</a>, this relationship is bidirectional with depression often resulting in increased immune response and illness resulting in prolonged sadness and lack of activity.  This association is seen both long-term and short-term, with the presence of one often being accompanied by the other and both inflammation and depression often being <a href="/facts/Comorbidity/tX5TvuKJ">co-morbid</a> with other conditions.
</p><p>Explanations for this relationship have come from both medical and evolutionary approaches, with disagreements stemming primarily about whether the connection is functional and why depression and inflammation share similar physiological pathways.
</p>

Depression and immune function open-in-new

Depression and immune function