Lyme disease is a bacterial disease that can be contracted from a tick bite carrying the spirochetes that cause the disease. It is typically associated with a characteristic erythema on the skin, but in general the skin lesions are not the most serious problem associated with the disease - a much greater risk is the possible complications of Lyme disease.

The consequences of contracting Lyme disease can vary greatly. Usually, attention is drawn to such as encephalitis, arthritis, nerve paralysis or myocarditis. However, Lyme borreliosis can also result in a variety of mental health problems - this is not often mentioned but the risk is really high.

The results of a study that was carried out in the United States ultimately yielded rather worrying results. The analysis was based on data from more than 12 000 people who contracted Lyme disease and almost 7 million patients who did not and who were the control group.

Ultimately, they found that patients who contracted Lyme disease had a 28% increased risk of developing psychiatric disorders. For affective disorders - which include depression - the risk was increased by as much as 42%. Patients with Lyme disease, compared to the control group, were also significantly more likely to commit suicide. The data presented strongly support the need to detect and treat possible mental disorders as early as possible in Lyme disease patients.