Dr. Barton Goldsmith: Depression and loneliness linked to higher mortality rates

A systematic review and meta-analysis of 90 cohort studies of social isolation, loneliness and mortality

The associations between social isolation, loneliness and the risk of mortality from all causes, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer are controversial. We systematically reviewed prospective studies on the association between social isolation, loneliness and mortality outcomes in adults aged 18 years or older, as well as studies on these relationships in individuals with CVD or cancer, and conducted a meta-analysis. The study protocol was re…

The Link Between Loneliness and Chronic Illness

A recent study does a deep dive into the painful intersection of loneliness and chronic illness.

Dr. Barton Goldsmith: Depression and loneliness linked to higher mortality rates

Apparently, loneliness and depression are the new smoking. In fact, recent studies show that loneliness and depression are more dangerous to your life than obesity or using tobacco products. That’s a scary discovery, as more than 40 million people in…

3 Kinds of Loneliness and 4 Kinds of Forever

Loneliness is the fundamental condition of life — we are born by another, but born alone; die around others (if we are lucky and loved), but die alone; we spend our lives islanded in our one and only human experience — in these particular bodies and minds and circumstances drawn from the cosmic lottery — amid the immense ocean of time and chance teeming with all possible experience. Everything of beauty and substance that we make — every poem, e…

Several research studies indicate that social relationships are essential to an individual's well-being. Solitude can affect physiological processes and thus impact health, quality of life and longevity. However, when one chooses and appreciates to be alone, it can also prove to be "positive." So spending time alone is a real source of well-being," says Virginia Thomas, professor of psychology at Middlebury College. "There are more and more peop…

Beatriz Vielba is a family doctor at the La Victoria Health Center in Valladolid, and is responsible for the SEMG mental health group. In this interview, the specialist talks about the detection of unwanted loneliness following her participation in “Advances in Depression”, the Lundbeck event that brought together more than 300 primary care physicians in Madrid. Why loneliness and social isolation are a public health priority today? Both lonelin…