Mood and Healing
by KYW's medical editor Dr. Brian McDonough
Can mood affect healing? According to a study out of England, it can.
A study looked at 93 patients with foot ulcers who were watched for six months. The size of each patient's ulcer was measured at the start of the study, and again at 6, 12 and 24 weeks. The researchers also assessed the participants' levels of psychological distress, coping styles and levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
The researchers found that depression appeared to have a major effect. Patients with depression showed less ulcer improvement or healing by the end of the 24 weeks.
This is a case where a study is leading to rather quick intervention. There is already a follow-up project to develop psychological treatments to reduce depression in patients with diabetic foot ulcers and help them cope more effectively with the condition. This is quite important because up to 15 percent of patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes develop foot or leg ulcers, which are open sores that form when a minor skin injury fails to heal.
Several studies have shown a relationship between mood and healing.
