File(s) under permanent embargo
Does reverse causality explain the relationship between diet and depression?
journal contribution
posted on 2015-04-01, 00:00 authored by Felice JackaFelice Jacka, N Cherbuin, K J Anstey, P ButterworthBACKGROUND: Observational studies have repeatedly demonstrated relationships between habitual diet quality and depression. However, whilst reverse causality has not been the identified mechanism for these associations in prospective studies, the relationship between diet and depression is likely complex and bidirectional. Thus explicit investigation of the reverse causality hypothesis is warranted. METHODS: Data were drawn from the Personality and Total Health (PATH) Through Life Study, a longitudinal community survey following three age cohorts from Australia. Analyses evaluated the relationships between past depression and treatment, current depressive symptoms and dietary patterns. RESULTS: Individuals with current depression had lower scores on a healthy dietary pattern; however, those who had been previously depressed and sought treatment had higher scores on the healthy dietary pattern at the later baseline assessment. Moreover, those who had reported prior, but not current, depression also had lower scores on the western dietary pattern than those without prior depression, regardless of whether they had been previously treated for their symptoms. LIMITATIONS: Self-report data and possible recall bias limit our conclusions. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, prior depression was associated with better quality diets at the later time point. Thus, while current depression is associated with poorer dietary habits, a history of depression may prompt healthier dietary behaviours in the long term. Given the demonstrated relationships between diet quality and depressive illness, clinicians should advocate dietary improvement for their patients with depression and should not be pessimistic about the likelihood of adherence to such recommendations.
History
Journal
Journal of affective disordersVolume
175Pagination
248 - 250Publisher
ElsevierLocation
Amsterdam, The NetherlandsPublisher DOI
ISSN
1573-2517Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2015, ElsevierUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
CausalityDepressionDietPreventionAdultAustraliaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleFood HabitsHumansLongitudinal StudiesMaleMiddle AgedProspective StudiesScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineClinical NeurologyPsychiatryNeurosciences & NeurologyPHYSICAL-ACTIVITYMAJOR DEPRESSIONSYMPTOMSPATTERNINTERVENTIONANXIETYADULTS
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC