Association between depression and sexually transmitted infections

Depression is common in people with sexually transmitted infections, Canadian researchers report in the December edition of Sexually Transmitted Infections. The researchers suggest that programmes should be designed to tackle depression in patients with sexually transmitted infections.

Treatment of sexually transmitted infections is an important aspect of their control and prevention. Diagnosis with a sexually transmitted infection can be an emotionally traumatic event that could lead to the development of depression. Furthermore, the existence of depression could mean that patients with symptoms of sexually transmitted infections do not seek timely treatment and care, or take precautions to protect their own or other people’s sexual health.

Determining the association between depression and sexually transmitted infections could have important public health implications. As a result, Canadian researchers examined the prevalence of sexually transmitted infections and depression in the general population.

This was a large study involving 21,500 individuals participating in the Canadian Community Health survey in 2003. All were aged between 15 and 49. The survey included questions about demographics, sexual behaviour, history of sexually transmitted diseases, marital status and use of alcohol and tobacco.

Overall, 5% of respondents had a history of sexually transmitted infections and 8% reported depression. Men were less likely than women to report both sexually transmitted infections (5% vs 6%) and depression (6% vs 10%).

For men, sexually transmitted infections increased the overall risk of depression by 50% (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 1.5; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.1-2.2). The investigators found a statistically significant relationship between depression and sexually transmitted infections in men aged under 35 (p

Amongst women, sexually transmitted infections increased the risk of depression by 80% (AOR, 1.8; 95% CI 1.4-2.3). No individual characteristic increased this association.

“Our results from a national survey support the argument that there is an association between sexually transmitted infections and depression,” comment the investigators.

They conclude, “[sexual] health clinics should be aware of which groups of STI patients are likely to be depressed. Outreach programmes should also be designed accordingly to tackle the depression problem amongst STI patients.”