Depression
- Depression is common psychiatric illness.
- Depression is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease.
- More women are affected by depression than men.
- Depression can lead to suicide.
- How will I cope?
What causes depression
Nobody is immune from depression. It can affect anyone even the most ideal person. Common cause of depression:
- Genetics: Depression can run in families.
- Brain neuro chemical changes.
- Brain neuro chemical changes.
- Environmental factors. Stressful environment is more likely to lead to depression. certain stress like loss of spouse, divorce, job loss, death of loved once etc. are more likely to lead to depression. Continuous exposure to violence, neglect, abuse or Major life events such as moving, graduating or retiring, etc. Being socially isolated or excluded from family, friends, or other social groups.
- Serious illness. Like cancer or chronic illness like diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, predisposes for depression.
Types of depression:
- Major depression
- Post partum depression
- Bipolar depression.
- Dysthymia
What are the signs and symptoms of depression?
Most common presentation of depression is by body ache fatigue, insomnia, headache, irritability, cheat pain and unexplained bodily symptoms.
Sadness is only one small part of depression and some people with depression may not feel sadness at all. Different people have different symptoms. Some symptoms of depression include:
- Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
- Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
- Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
- Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies or activities
- Decreased energy, fatigue, or being “slowed down”
- Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
- Difficulty sleeping, early-morning awakening, or oversleeping
- Appetite and/or weight changes
- Restlessness or Irritability
- Aches or pains, headaches, cramps, or digestive problems without a clear physical cause and/or that do not ease even with treatment
How Is Depression Treated?
Medication and psychological treatment form mainstay of treatment. Type of treatment depends on severity, types of symptoms, subjective distress, & personal choice of patient. both modalities work well but decision of seeking type of treatment should be taken after consultation with mental health professional. Patient with suicidal thought and history of attempt should seek both treatment. sometimes severe depression patient needs admission in psychiatric setup.
Medication:
Separate class of medicine called antidepressant are commonly used to treat depression. They alter chemicals in brain and bring about improvement in patients. We have different classes of antidepressant which are chosen depending upon the type, severity of symptoms, side effect profile etc. most class of antidepressant are equally effective in alleviating symptoms of depression.
Psychotherapy:
Different type of therapies are available for treating depression. Few are CBT, REBT, Interpersonal therapy etc. of late first two are most often used.
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a medical treatment that has been most commonly reserved for patients with severe major depression who have not responded to other treatments
How can I help one who is depressed?
- Offer support, understanding, patience, and encouragement
- Never ignore comments about suicide, and report them to treating psychiatrist or seek immediate treatment.
- Invite him or her out for walks, outings, and other activities
- Help him or her adhere to the treatment plan.
- Remind him or her that, with time and treatment, depression can be overcome.
Mental Peace. We Take Care of What Matters You Most!
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