|
|
| Depression Information |
|
|
|
|
Depression - Causes and Treatments
Depression has long been considered a character flaw indicative of morally weak minded individuals. However, new research clearly shows that depression has distinct biochemical roots that affect the way nerve cells work. It is an illness which can be accurately diagnosed and treated successfully in the vast majority of cases. Through the recognition of causes and knowledge of the treatments, those suffering from depression are able to preserver and overcome their illness. Depression can be described in terms of a physical imbalance in the brain which may cause, or be caused by various psychological conditions. The physical imbalance refers to an abnormally high or low level of hormones in the brain. These hormones may include, but are not limited to, the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine. The unusual levels of these chemicals may be inherited, which is part of the reason why depression tends to run in families. A psychological condition is basically the emotional state of a person which leads them into depression. A few common conditions are guilt, loneliness, anxiety, and sadness. Guilt can be experienced by all age groups, but is especially common among the elderly who have the so-called "survivors guilt" for outliving their loved ones. Loneliness is also a common emotional problem of the elderly, and adults in general. According to Dr. Robert Butler MD, author of Aging and Mental Health 1991, "children tend to fear being left alone in a threatening and uncertain world, while adults fear emotional isolation." Depressive psychological conditions can also be a result of traumatic emotional loses and low self esteem. Profound trauma in early childhood such as physical or sexual abuse, a bitter divorce, the death of a parent, or other deeply disturbing experiences can set the emotional stage for depression later in life. Low self esteem can arise in childhood and last into adulthood. Usually caused by unpleasant experiences, such as taunting by peers, which gradually lowers the feeling of self worth. Depression may be treated using a variety of different methods which are divided into two main divisions: antidepressant medications, and non-drug therapies. Antidepressant medications work by rebalancing the offset chemicals in the brain, thus improving emotional well being. As reported in Drug Facts and Comparisons 1999, all antidepressants are equally effective; elevating mood in 60% to 80% of people who use them as directed. (statistics) MAO inhibitors are among the oldest antidepressants currently in use. They work by interfering with the enzyme monoamine oxidase, which helps clear serotonin and dopamine from the spaces between nerve endings in the brain. SSRI's are drugs such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil. In addition to treating depression they may also help treat anxiety, panic, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and bulimia. As stated in the Medical Tribune 1996, SSRI's work by selectively keeping nerve cells from eliminating the neurotransmitter serotonin. Non-drug therapies offer many alternatives to antidepressant medication. Cognitive therapy - also called cognitive restructuring - teaches people to first identify and then correct depressive thinking. Many people tend to distort and over magnify small mistakes, and cognitive therapy helps them downplay these minor problems. "You can't talk yourself out of depression, but you can stop talking yourself deeper into it." Quote by Dr. Michael Castleman, author of Cognitive Therapy 1979. One of the most common non-drug therapies is exercise. Research indicates that exercise can improve mood, relieve anxiety, improve appetite, and increase self esteem. "Exercise helps normalize the chemical imbalances in the brain linked to depression", says Dr. Steven Zarit in book Mental Disorders in Adults 1998. Another popular treatment is Psychotherapy. Long-term Freudian psychoanalysis has been largely replaced by shorter-term "talk therapies." In the NIMH study, nearly half of those patients with mild to moderate depression reported significant improvement after 16 weeks. In cases of severe depression where antidepressants prove ineffective, ETC, or Electroconvulsive therapy, is an option. ETC involves the brief application of electric stimulus used to produce a generalized seizure. Despite the controversy over this treatment, it has been shown to improve the condition of 85% of patients with severe depression. Stuart Yudofsky, M.D., says: "When used properly, ECT is safe and effective. Unfortunately, because of fear of electricity, and the inaccurate ways ECT has been portrayed in movies and on television, many people who could benefit from it don't consider it." People are very complicated physically and emotionally. Whether the conditions which lead to depression involve deep emotional scares from the past or a form of disillusionment in the present, there are treatments that can offer relief and ultimately a cure. Bradley James is a senior editor at SciNet.cc, a website containing many helpful consumer electronics review articles. For more information on depression, please visit our depression causes and treatments webpage.
Depression - Google News |
|
|
|
Alternative Medicine The Cost of Giving Up I'm sure at times of deep crisis many of you have considered thoughts of "giving up". What is the cost to you of entertaining such thoughts? Well as one client with a progressively deteriorating illness I was working with stated "it's like having one foot out the back door". Depression Explained Depression is a mental state marked by melancholy, pessimism or dejection. Depression can also be defined as a psychotic condition characterized by stuporous withdrawal from reality and intense guilt feelings. Depression-My Story What is depression? Is it ADHD or is it Depression? During the assessment process it is of great importance for the physician or clinician to consider other possible causes of inattention, impulsivity, or hyperactivity in your child, or teen, or yourself. In fact, this is probably the most important element of a good assessment. There are several possible causes of these behaviors, especially in children, and the clinician must have great certainty that these other possible causes have been ruled out before giving the label of "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" to your child. Psychiatrist Begin Training About Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Depression The manufacturer of the vagus nerve stimulator has begun face-to face meetings with psychiatrists nationwide to educate them about vagus nerve stimulation therapy, how it works and for whom this treatment is indicated. It is very important that both you and your psychiatrist fully understand vagus nerve stimulation therapy so that you can make an informed decision together about this ninety-minute out-patient implant procedure. Seven Ways To Deal With Your Depression It has just been announced, after a study by a team from King's College Hospital, that depression is now the biggest reason for people claiming long-term sickness benefit in the UK, having taken over from musculoskeletal problems such as back problems. The research shows that 176 million working days were lost because of depression in 2003. Depression now affects 1 in 5 of the population, with most people using various types of medication. Most people would like other types of treatments, such as 'talking cures', but there is a huge shortage of such therapies or therapists in the NHS system. ADHD and Depression -- More Common Than Thought "Thanks for Noticin' Me" says Eeyore. He walks slowly. He looks sad. He doesn't accomplish much. He's just glad to be noticed. This is Eeyore, the stuffed donkey who is so often in need of his tail being pinned back on. Quick Steps To Reduce Your Worries Looking for a way to reduce the amount of worrying you do? 7 Things You Can Do Immediately To Ease Depression 1. Get out now and walk fifteen minutes. It will get your feet moving and help you feel you are at least able to do something. Omega 3 EPA: Natures Very Own Anti-depressant Since Dr Malcolm Peet, a consultant psychiatrist at Sheffield swallow court hospital released his findings about the effects of Ethyl Epa and its effects on people suffering from depression and low moods, many other studies have been performed using Ethyl Epa to help treat depression and related disorders. The vast majority of the studies that have been performed consistently confirmed that Ethyl Epa, a natural substance found in omega 3 fish oil, helps relieve depression and low moods. Use Alternative Medicine to Ease Depression Depression is a problem that faces many of us, young or old; baby boomers or generation X. We have a fast lifestyle, we're working between sixty and eighty hours a week and we have long commutes into the office keeping us away from our families. Pressures, stress and anxiety can gang up on us to cause an uncontrolled depression. Depression can be a symptom of this stress, or it can have a physiological cause as well. If you have cancer, heart disease or chronic pain, you might know all about depression and how debilitating it can be in your life. If you are one of the millions of people suffering from depression, what can you do about it? Are you ready to jump into the world of antidepressants that your doctor so quickly prescribes? We all want the magic bullet, the answer to just make the pain go away. Are you suffering from Depression? Millions of people sufferaround the world from a depressive illness. They think that depression is just a normal occurrence in their lives, which will go away after a short while. If you think of the fast moving and complicated world we live in today it's easy to feel a little overwhelmed and dismiss how serious depression can be. Depression in Teenagers: Now What Can We Do? No doubt you have seen the recent news headlines about a federal panel that recommended to the FDA that anti-depressant medications carry the strongest possible warning label for use in children and teenagers. This recommendation to the FDA shook the medical community, especially those who work with depressed young people. The biggest problem from the treatment community's point of view was not the recommendation for the warning label, but the way that the media protrayed the panel's recommendation. When Your Mind Develops A Mind Of Its Own We've all been there? One minute your listening intently as your mother in law tells you for the tenth time about the people she met on her recent holiday? or to the boss as he delivers a presentation on improving productivity levels (yawn!) 5 Super Effective Tips To Kill Depression Being lonely is a normal part of our everyday lives. We get sad when we fail in our exams, when we're rejected by the person we love, or when someone very close to us passes away. Depression, however, could be more fatal than just plain loneliness. It could render life-long consequences that could ruin your self-esteem, health, and well-being. What is Neurotransmitter Deficiency Disorder and How Can It Cause Depression, Anxiety, and... Neurotransmitters (NTs) are essential chemical messengers that regulate brain, muscle, nerve and organ function. The most common NTs are serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine, and epinephrine. Low levels of these important chemicals is extremely common in the general public and is due to innumerable lifestyle, environmental, and dietary factors. This article is intended to help the reader determine whether they may be deficient in NTs and how evaluation and treatment of this disorder can help. Adult Men and Women Who Suffer From Chronic Depression Market surveys on women, men and depression suggest an estimated 4.4 million Americans are believed to suffer from chronic treatment-resistant depression. Depression is a chronic, disabling disorder and a major worldwide public health problem. Depressive episodes usually recur over time, with risk for further episodes proportional to the number of prior episodes. After three major depressive episodes, the probability of recurrence is 90%. In the U.S. alone, approximately 18 million people suffer from depression over six million of which are receiving some form of medical treatment. New Treatment for Chronic Depression Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Chronic Treatment-Resistant Depression Chronic Depression: Disease or Charcter Flaw? A major survey on depression symptoms from the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), released in july 2001, revealed a dramatic degree of progress in public understanding. Yet even amid this promising trend, the survey sheds light on the difficulties faced by millions of people striving to manage this sometimes chronic, life-long illness. FDA Nears Completion of Review of Vagus Nerve Stimulation For Chronic Depression On June 2 at 8:00 pm ET, Reuters news service issued a press release announcing that the FDA have nearly completed final review of the conditions outlined in the February "deemed approvable" letter for VNS Therapy as a treatment for chronic depression. Cyberonics Inc. said that the FDA had nearly completed final review of conditions outlined in the February approval of its implanted device for treatment of chronic depression.
|
| home | site map | |
© 2006 www.elearn-university.org |
