As a result, patients singularly afflicted can do activities, which allow them to take a vacation from their disease. In contrast, multi-system diseases such as chronic Lyme disease can penetrate into multiple aspects of a person's life. It is difficult to escape for periodic recovery. In many cases, this results in a vicious cycle of disappointment, grief, chronic stress, and demoralization. I t should be noted that depression is not only caused by psychological factors.
Physical dysfunction can directly cause depression.
Endocrine disorders such as hypothyroidism, which cause depression, are sometimes associated with Lyme disease and further strengthen the link between Lyme disease and depression. T he most complex link is the association between Lyme disease and central nervous system functioning. Lyme encephalopathy results in the dysfunction of a number of different mental functions. Although all Lyme disease patients demonstrate many similar symptoms, no two patients present with the exact same symptom profile. O ther mental syndromes associated with late state Lyme disease, such as attention deficit disorder, panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, etc., may also contribute to the development of depression.