Depression linked to fracture risk.

Depression may increase a woman's risk for broken bones, according to a study by scientists at the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). The hip bone mineral density of women with a history of major depression was found to be 10-15% lower than normal for their age -- so low that their risk of hip fracture increased by 40% over 10 years.

"Although further research is required to determine the underlying mechanisms, our finding underscore the fact that depression is not only a psychological problem, but also a biological syndrome," explains researcher David Michelson. "Bone mineral density, once lost, is not easily regained. Thus, losses that may occur during recurrent episodes of depression could be additive."

"Since depression affects five to nine percent of women, providing early treatment could have significant public health implications by reducing the risk of fracture," adds Philip Gold, chief of the NIMH Clinical Neuroendocrinology Branch, where the research was conducted. "The affected women in this study, average age 41, had bone loss equivalent to that of 70-year-old women. More than a third faced a markedly...