Cory Patterson's short-term playing future is up in the air with the Newcastle backrower revealing he has been diagnosed with depression.

Patterson made the courageous decision to come public with news of his illness at a press conference in Newcastle on Friday, just days out from the Knights' clash with West Tigers on Sunday.

The 21-year-old said he had been dealing with the illness for the last six to eight weeks, revealing he was now on medication to help correct a chemical imbalance.

Patterson will travel down to Campbelltown with the rest of the Knights squad for Sunday's game and remains some chance of taking on the Tigers.

"I just wanted to get this out there so that there's no stone being unturned, it's all out there, what you see now is what you get," Patterson said.

"I think it was best if we got this out in the open instead of speculation `why is he missing this game, why isn't he playing?'

"I'd rather it come out in a positive note rather than a negative one."

Asked when he realised there was a problem, Patterson said: "When it pretty much just got too much for me.

"I just thought `I can't do this any longer' and I rang Neil (club doctor Neil Halpin).

"It was just a combination of things and it all just sort of came to a head with me not playing my best footy.

"Footy wasn't the reason why this happened but it was a contributing factor.

"Usually footy's my happy place and where I really enjoy to be at and I found myself not enjoying it as much, there was no real outlet for me because I wasn't playing my best footy.

"Training became a bit of a drag, I was always tired and moody and wasn't the best of teammates to have around and it all just snowballed from there."

While Patterson's treatment will be ongoing, he remains confident of making a full recovery.

He believes it could impact his availability for several games this season, but is adamant he won't be leaving his teammates in the lurch.

"I'll be travelling down (to Campbelltown) ... if I'm feeling right to play (coach Brian Smith will) let me play," he said.

"But there comes a time and a place where I've got to do the right thing by my teammates and by me, leaving it last minute every week I'm being unfair to my teammates.

"That's got to stop from now on and I'm going to have to prove my fitness during the week and give (Smith) a guarantee I'll be right by the weekend."

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