Depression Linked to Osteoporosis, Bone Pain

Hebrew University scientists studying a link between depression and osteoporosis found that rats induced into a depressive state lost up to 17 percent of their bone density in just four weeks. Researchers theorize this is due to impairment in the body's bone-repairing process triggered by changes in the sympathetic nervous system.

"Our results constitute important and convincing demonstrations for the interconnections between mind and body," said Raz Yirmiya, a professor of psychobiology, in an e-mail from Jerusalem. "Establishing a link among depression, excessive sympathetic activation and impaired skeletal structure is of key importance because these conditions characterize menopause and aging."

The team further found that the anti-depressant imipramine also worked to increase bone mass, following prior studies suggesting Prozac may also function likewise.

Read more: Depression Can Hurt, Right Down to Your Bones