- With Mayo Clinic psychiatrist
Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
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Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
Dr. Gabrielle Melin, board certified in general psychiatry and psychosomatic medicine, is looking for ways to empower patients and families dealing with chronic mental illness. She encourages patients to commit to working together with their physicians and health care teams.
Dr. Melin completed medical school at the University of Minnesota. She completed both her psychiatry residency and consultation-liaison fellowship at Mayo Clinic before joining the Mayo Clinic staff in 2001. She is medical director of Mayo Clinic Psychiatry Emergency Services in Rochester, Minn. She has special interests in emergency psychiatry, adult psychiatry and addiction psychiatry.
"Instilling hope is one of the most important things we can do for patients and families. Mental illness can be chronic and significantly impacts lives. Our goal is to provide the best treatment and education so that patients can manage their symptoms more effectively," she said.
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Depression blog
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Oct. 4, 2008
The link between cardiovascular disease and depression
By Gabrielle J. Melin, M.D.
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We have known that there is a link between depression and heart disease for some time now.
In an exciting development, the American Heart Association (AHA) last month recommended that all heart disease patients be screened regularly for depression. The AHA guidelines reported that those who survive heart attacks or are hospitalized with heart problems have a depression rate 3 times that of the general population.
Those with untreated depression may not follow treatment plan recommendations. This could include not taking medications as prescribed or not following up in rehabilitation programs. The end result is obvious worsening of both the heart disease and depression.
Other medical illness such as Parkinson's disease, pancreatic cancer, and certain types of stroke, just to name a few, are also known to be strongly associated with depression. For those that suffer from Parkinson's disease, 50 percent will also develop depression.
Several depression screening tools are widely available. One of them is the patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9) and is a self-rated depression assessment. You can find it in the links below. There are 9 questions about depressive symptoms and a tenth question about how symptoms impact one's daily functioning. This screening tool has been validated for patients with medical illnesses. If your health care provider isn't using this tool, they may be using another one. The screening tool is just one part of making the diagnosis. Remember that depression is treatable and the correct diagnosis is important.
7 comments posted
December 4, 2008 7:43 p.m.
I have had chronic depression for over 30 yrs following the death of my daughter and living with alcolholic husband - I have to take meds and physilogical help when needed - it is necessary to keep your body in condition and be aware of this illness - eat the right foods, exercise regularly, get the proper rest - if you let down on your regimine depression sets in stronger in your body - it is not possible to be really healthy without using depression meds as prescribed and following good health solutions - positive thinking is an abosolute must - with age the body wears down - we know are finding some hereditary issues with this in our family -there are many people who totally do not understand the illness and pooh-pooh it ...I have lived through it and recovered from a serious 4 yr illness with self help and continue my battle through the years now
- glenda
November 5, 2008 11:38 p.m.
Interesting notion. I'm a 55 year old male with CAD -- two stents before 52. Been searching for answers to symptoms that include many depression related symptoms ( lack of energy, inability to concentrate/focus; lack of interest in things I once enjoyed, but no feelings of hopelessness or thoughts of suicide.....but also a lot of physical symptoms including dizziness/light headedness; very cold hands and feet; sometimes with tingling/numbness; headache centered at the base of my skull and tension in my shoulders and back. Neurologist has thrown up his hands. Cardio guys see no connection. Some are thinking migraines but as I learn more about depression I wonder if that could be the cause. Has anyone ever seen these physical symptoms related to depression? Thanks in advance for any insight.
- Jeff
October 15, 2008 8:33 a.m.
It would be a good idea to also do the inverse. Check all patients with depression for cardiac issues.
- Ronnie
October 8, 2008 12:17 a.m.
Is this something we didn't know???? If you get a disease, depression is probably a normal reaction, not something to have to take ssri drugs, which have some dangerous, horrible side effects, including suicidal, voilent, or impulsive actions! Sheesh. When is plain Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and talk therapy ever going to return????? I am sooo glad insurance companies are going to be compelled to pay for mental health services. But, from what a psychiatrist friend tells me, the insurance companies won't pay the doctors unless they write a prescription. That needs to be changed in the health care arena. When are doctors going to one day protest what the insurance companies are doing to health care!!!!?????!!!!! My sister is a teaching M.D. and she is getting fed up.
- Alida
October 7, 2008 9:41 p.m.
My father recently had a very aggressive surgery involving a triple bypass, a mital valve replacement, and aortic valve replacement. The surgery lasted 12 hours. He is in agressive theapy right now, and I have already asked the staff for counseling for him
- Barb
October 6, 2008 9:10 a.m.
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October 4, 2008 10:49 a.m.
Interesting read. There may be something to this. I do believe that better body functioning helps stave off a number of illnesses and, I don't see why depression would be any different. A better functioning body would translate into higher self esteem, more self confidence, better chance of your bodies blood and chemicals flowing through the body faster and at the right times. I believe there could be something to this. However, I think everyone should make efforts to get physical exercise. The endorphin boost alone is great for depression.
- Frank Miller
7 comments posted