Is there any connection between depression and a H. pylori infection?
Some people feel tired, run down and depressed when they have H. pylori. In a double-blind study of ulcer patients, we found that eliminating H. pylori caused increased wellbeing and a more positive attitude in the patients even though they did not know whether or not they had the H. pylori eradicated (it was a placebo controlled study). Since quite severe inflammation can be present in the stomachs of patients with H. pylori infection, it is not unreasonable to see that they would feel unwell. Some of these feelings may be subtle and could easily be a part of a depression syndrome. If a patient with depression is found to have H. pylori infection, I would probably treat the H. pylori as well as managing the depression. Patients who have spent time in institutions during their life are quite likely to be affected with H. pylori infection.
