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Depression

What is clinical depression?

• It is more than being temporarily “down” or “blue” lasting several weeks accompanied by other symptoms.

• It is a physical illness involving a chemical imbalance in the brain.

• It can be described as a “blue” period.

• It affects the total person – behavior, mood, and thoughts, as well as physical health, academic or work, performance, and the daily ability to handle everyday situations.

 

Types of clinical depression?

• Major Depression: a combination of symptoms, often severe and disabling. Occurrences vary.

• Dysthymia: less severe, long-term chronic, does not disable, but person cannot function up to potential.

• Manic Depressive/Bipolar Illness: not as common, Depression cycles with Mania. Affects thinking, judgment, and social behavior which leads to serious problems and embarrassment.

• If you have four or five of these symptoms every day for a two-week period, see a doctor or mental health professional.

Symptoms

        

Depression Mania
Sad/empty mood  Boundless energy
Loss of interest in ordinary activities Increased activity
Sleep disturbances (more or less) Increased risk-taking behavior/poor judgment
Eating disturbances (more or less) Drug and/or alcohol abuse
Difficulty concentrating, making decisions Easily distracted
Hopelessness, worthlessness POS (rapid, disorganized speech)
Death/suicide Grandiose/delusional thinking
Guilt  Impulsive/erratic behavior
Irritability Decreased sleep
Increased crying Irritability
Loss/gain of weight FOI (racing thoughts)
Chronic aches/pains unresponsive to treatment Fatigue/loss of energy

Causes

• Not know specifically

• Current beliefs:

  1. Chemical imbalances in the frontal lobe of the brain
  2. Data suggests a genetic link, as it has shown to run in families
  3. Some medicines can trigger a depressive episode
  4. Other factors can influence the onset of a depressive episode, such as a stressful environment, low self-esteem, pessimistic thinking, and being easily overwhelmed

 

Treatments

• About 80-90 percent of persons can be helped, usually in a matter of 4-6 weeks

• Psychological therapies: for less severe cases may be used alone, or often used along with medication for optimal results.

• Electro-convulsive Therapy (ECT): used if situation is life threatening. Depression is severe, if medications are not effective, for pregnant women who cannot take medications, or for severe mania.

• Most important: asking for help, because people fail to recognize the symptoms.

• Only 1 in 3 people get help because of the following:

  1. Symptoms are often blamed on the person, considered a weakness.
  2. People are misdiagnosed.
  3. A person becomes so disabled that he/she is unable to ask for help.

• A full physical examination, intake of family history, and psychological evaluation should be completed by a mental health professional or family physician before any treatment takes place.

• Medications often provide for a quicker, more cost-effective mode of treatment for those diagnosed with Severe Depressions. If depressive episodes reoccur, then the patient typically stays on medication.

• In order to be effective, medication compliance is especially important. However, it has been estimated that 70 percent of patients fail to take 25-50 percent of their medication, which is predictive of poor outcome.

• There can be increased alcohol and drug use (alcohol is a depressant and makes it worse)

• There is increased running-away behavior.

• There is an increased feeling of worthlessness and hopelessness.

• There is an increased incidence of suicide.

• If untreated, it does not go away.

• Fifteen percent of persons with severe, untreated Depression commit suicide.

• Suicide is the eighth leading cause of death in the United States.

 

In Summary

• Clinical Depression is a serious physical illness.

• It is not due to poor parenting or weak behavior.

• It is not hopeless.

• It affects 190 million Americans every year.

• Women are twice as likely to have an episode of Depression in their lifetime as men. One-fourth of all women and   one-eighth of men will be affected.

• Depression affects all ages and cultures.

• Depressive illnesses are the second most common group of the major mental illnesses, occurring in 8.3 percent of the population (Anxiety Disorders make up 14 percent. Schizophrenia makes up 1.5 percent).

• Eight percent or 15 million adults are affected by Depression in their lifetime.

 

Suggested Readings

Learning to Cope with Depression & Manic Depression by Copeland, Mary Ellen

The Depression Workbook by Copeland, Mary Ellen

Helping the Depressed Person Get Treatment by NIMH

Do You Have a Depressive Illness? by Klein, Donald & Wender, M.D., Paul

Suicide. Why? by Wrobleski, Adina

 

If you or someone you know would like more information on mental illness

or wish to request an educational presentation, please contact:

NAMI IOWA (National Alliance on Mental Illness)

5911 Meredith Drive  Suite E

Des Moines IA  50322-1903

Phone: (515) 254-0417 or (800) 417-0417 IOWA ONLY

Fax: (515) 254-1103  Website: http://www.namiiowa.org/