Elise Elliott
Doctoring Depression November 24, 2009
Volume 1, Issue 1
Introduction to Depression Affective disorders can develop in many different forms, including schizophrenia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression. The latter may be broken down further and further, categorized by level of severity, age, gender, and Depression is described as “living in a black hole”
how long the symptoms have been evident (4). It is frequently described as ―living in a black hole‖,
and is more debilitating than your average sadness or bad mood (4). Its status as an affective disorder stems from its ability to disturb, or affect, a person’s life in major ways, possibly to the point where, in very severe cases, one could lose contact with reality (1). Depression can be caused by many things (see page 2), but is generally attributed to a failure to deal with psy-
chological stress, such as a death, loss, or major life changes (1, 2). This failure to cope may not always manifest itself in sadness—a depressed person may also feel empty, useless, uncaring, or angry (4). These feelings are usually intense (though varying) and persistent (4). They can, however, be treated. It is not always easy or immediate, but at least 85% of all depressed persons can be treated to a significant level (6). This newsletter hopes to inform about an illness, and perhaps provide aid to those in need.
Symptoms and Signs (4, 2) There are many extremes in symptoms of depression; for example, one may have insomnia, or constant fatigue. Also, dramatic changes in appetite (whether it is overeating or under-eating), and hyper– or hypomania are possibilities. A depressed person may also feel hopeless, helpless, and often may have very low self-esteem.
Other signs could include: Difficulty concentrating
Irritability Loss of interest in previously enjoyed pastimes Isolation
Think you might be depressed? Look at the list of symptoms How your depression may be affected by your age and gender Possible treatments— there’s hope Resources for further information and help
Inside this issue: Physical manifestations (stomach or headaches)
Causes
2
Suicidal thoughts
Depression and Age/ Gender
2
Types of Depression
2
Treatment
3
Suicide
3
A Success Story
3
Bibliography and Resources
4
Negative thinking Guilt/self-loathing
Special points of interest:
Symptoms vary for each individual. You may have all or many or even very few of the listed signs and still be depressed. If you feel consistently sad for a long period of time, it would be wise to find help.
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Doctoring Depression
Causes (2) There is often no known reason to explain why a person is depressed—it’s difficult to figure out, as it may be a combination of events and thoughts, or there may be a specific trigger or medical reason behind it. However, there are some common causes: Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional)
Genetics are sometimes the cause of depression.
Twice the amount of women are depressed than men, but men are at a higher suicide risk and have more completed suicides.
Certain medications/sideeffects
Conflict (personal, familial, social) Death or loss Major events or big changes Serious illness Substance abuse Genetics (exact way unknown) Chemical imbalances
Depression and Age/Gender (4) Depending on one’s age and gender, their symptoms or causes for depression may be different. In Men: Depression among men is usually incorrectly associated with weakness. As they are less likely to talk to someone, they are at a higher suicide risk and have a higher number of completed suicides than women. They tend to complain about fatigue, short-
tempers, and losses of interest. In Women: Twice the amount of women are depressed than men, as they can be more emotional. Many women will overeat, feel guilt, and sleep excessively. Depression in women could be attributed to post-partum depression or pre -menstrual syndrome.
Depression is different in older people and younger.
In Age: Teens can be hostile or grumpy rather than sad, while older adults could complain more about physical symptoms. Age is not always a large factor, although sometimes it does matter.
Types of Depression Besides major (or clinical) depression, there are many other types, including bipolar disorder, also known as manic depression, where a person can go from intensely depressed with basic signs of major depression, to manic episodes where they can become hyperactive, suffer from insomnia, and can include risky behavior (4). A person
could also have atypical depression, which accounts for 23 to 36% of all cases and which is very under recognized (3). Someone with atypical depression is said to have ―mood reactivity‖—it is possible for them to be cheered up at least 50% in reaction to positive things in their life (3). Dysthymia is another type of depression with some par-
allel symptoms to major depression, but usually not as severe (5). It does, however, last longer —it takes two years to be officially diagnosed (5). Dysthymia is frequently misconstrued as not as serious as other forms of depression, but some cases can be even more disabling than others and more than half of dysthymics develop major depression (5).
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Volume 1, Issue 1
Treatment (6) Mood disorders are very treatable in most cases. Most commonly, psychotherapy or medications are used. Medications (SSRIs or antidepressants) are fast, easy, and nonaddictive. However there can be side-effects, a strict schedule must be followed, and it could take a while to find the right dosage and medication. Antidepressants can also be dangerous when a person is suicidal, as it can give them the energy and drive to follow through with their thoughts. Psychotherapy is not always
reliable, but does offer an option for those who don’t want to take or who were unresponsive to medicine. It does, however, take significantly longer to help, and it isn’t effective for severe depression or bipolar disorder. Though these are the most common treatments, interpersonal therapy (―crisis intervention‖, or a method to help a person cope with their stressor), psychodynamic therapy (which focuses on one’s past experiences and how they affect their current lives), supportive therapy
(that teaches the patient about their illness and helps them set realistic goals), and behavioral therapy (focusing on fixing potential destructive patterns of thinking or acting) are also used to treat mood disorders.
Psychotherapy is recommended treatment for depression.
Suicide When a person is severely depressed, they simply want to stop hurting, and suicide seems like the easiest and fastest way to accomplish this goal (4). Suicide is not a wish to die; it is a cry for help (4). They simply want attention, because they don’t know how to ask for it themselves (4).
In the United States, about one million people commit suicide every year. It is in the top three leading causes of death in the 15-24 age group in all of the countries that collect data (7). Suicide is in the top three causes of death among 1524 year olds.
A Success Story* Heather Scott, sixteen years old, was an average junior in an average high school in Missouri. She got good grades and had great friends, even a boyfriend. When her parents got a divorce, she was devastated; her family was her foundation. Heather became constantly sad—at first, it was no big deal, and she figured it was just a reaction to a large change. She put on a good face for her family and friends.
However, she kept falling farther and farther into a hole, and she became unable to dig herself out. She was able to maintain her outside façade, even though her internal defenses were crumbling. She was always tired and grumpy; she almost never ate, and she blamed herself for her parents’ troubles. Heather began to isolate herself from her friends. Nobody really noticed, as she had always been
shy. Over time, she was no longer strong enough to even survive, much less live, and she gathered up the last of her strength to ask her mother for help. She has now been seeing a psychiatrist for eight months and is very close to being back to her previous state. Congratulations, Heather! * this story is entirely fictional, but it is based off of causes, symptoms, and treatments gathered from all of my sources.
Mood disorders are entirely treatable, but treatment needs to be asked for.
Bibliography 1.
Blinder, Martin. Psychiatry in the Everyday Practice of Law. New York: The Lawyers Cooperative Publishing Co., 1982. 15-16, 26.
2.
Chakraburtty, Amal. "Causes of Depression." WebMD. 4 May 2008. 14 November 2009. <http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/ causes-depression>.
3.
Marano, Hara Estroff. "The Different Faces of Depression." Psychology Today. 9 November 2007. 14 November 2009. <http:// www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200308/the-different-faces-depression>.
4.
Saisan, Joanna, et. al. "Understanding Depression." HelpGuide. June 2009. 14 November 2009. <http://helpguide.org/mental/ depression_signs_types_diagnosis_treatment.htm>.
5.
Author Unknown. "Dysthymia." Harvard Health Publications. February 2005. 14 November 2009. <http://www.health.harvard.edu/ newsweek/Dysthymia.htm>.
6.
Author Unknown. "Treatment of Mood Disorders." Medletter. Volume Unknown (2007): 20-56. EBSCOhost. McCulloch Library, Saint Louis, Missouri. 14 November 2009. <http://www.ebscohost.com>.
7.
Author Unknown. ―Youth and Teen Suicide Statistics.‖ Web4Health. 31 July 2008. 14 November 2009. <http://web4health.info/en/ answers/bipolar-suicide-statistics>.
Pictures: 1.
Artist Unknown. "Black Hole." Date Unknown. Online Image. The Techies. 20 November 2009. <http://thetechies.wordpress.com/category/ black-hole/>.
2.
Artist Unknown. ―DNA .‖ Date Unknown. Online Image. NOVA Science Now. 20 November 2009. <http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/ sciencenow/3214/01-coll-04.html>.
3.
Artist Unknown. ―Psychotherapy.‖ Date Unknown. Online Image. Behavioral Connections. 20 November 2009. <http:// www.behavioralconnections.org/poc/center_index.php?id=91>.
4.
Artist Unknown. ―Suicide.‖ Date Unknown. Online Image. Psychminded. 20 November 2009. <http://www.psychminded.co.uk/>.
5.
Warnock, Todd. ―Grandfather and Granddaughter.‖ Date Unknown. Online Image. Getty Images. 20 November 2009. <http:// www.gettyimages.com/detail/83119230/Lifesize>.
Resources
National:
Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance
School:
Elizabeth Clark
730 N. Franklin Street, Suite 501
Upper School Counselor
Chicago, Illinois 60654
Room May 23
http://dbsalliance.org
314-995-7323
314-995-7323
Local:
Mental Health America of Eastern MO 1905 S. Grand St. Louis, MO 63104 http://mhagstl.org 314-773-1399
Website:
National Institute of Mental Health http://nimh.nih.gov