Preview

Major Depression Research Paper

Better Essays
Open Document
Open Document
1173 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Major Depression Research Paper
Major Depression

Definition
Major depression is a medical illness that is characterized by feeling of sadness, disappointment, and despair. It is a “whole body illness” that involves emotional, physical, intellectual, social, and spiritual problems. Also called major depressive disorder and clinical depression, it affects how a person feels, thinks and behaves. They may have trouble doing normal day-to-day activities, and depression may make them feel as if life isn't worth living.

Signs and Symptoms
Depression can change or distort the way someone sees their self, their life, and those around them. People who have depression usually see everything with a more negative attitude, unable to imagine that any problem or situation can be solved in a positive way. Symptoms of depression can include agitation, restlessness, and irritability; dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss; fatigue and lack of energy; feelings of hopelessness and helplessness; feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and guilt; becoming withdrawn or isolated; loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed; thoughts of death or suicide; trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping; reduced sex drive; slowed thinking, speaking or body movements; indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration; crying spells for no apparent reason; and unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches. Depression can appear as anger and discouragement, rather than feelings of sadness. If depression is very severe, there may also be psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions.

Depression symptoms in children and teens can be a little different than they are in adults. In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, hopelessness and worry. Symptoms in adolescents and teens may include anxiety, anger and avoidance of social interaction. Changes in thinking and sleep are common signs of depression in adolescents

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Powerful Essays

    Depression is a mental condition characterised by feelings of extreme sadness, rejection and dejection. It is very crucial to detect depression early as untreated, it can lead to suicide.…

    • 3293 Words
    • 12 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Better Essays

    Bipolar disorder is usually treated with mood stabilizers such as Lithium or carbamazepine, anticonvulsant medications such as valproic acid or lamotrigine, or pairing antidepressants with mood stabilizers. However, bipolar disorder can be treated with a combined treatment of mood stabilizers and individual, group, or family therapy. There are many more treatments for unipolar depression. Biological treatments include brain stimulation such as vague nerve stimulation, trans-cranial magnetic stimulation, and deep brain stimulation. This option of treatment is usually the last option because it is used for treatment-resistant depression. Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is also used as a treatment for depression although it is considered controversial. This type of treatment can cause dislocated jaws and shoulders and even broken bones. It can also cause short-term and even long-term memory loss. Another biological treatment for unipolar depression is antidepressants. These include mono-amine oxidase (MAO) inhibitors, tricyclics, and selective serotonin reputake inhibitors (SSRIs). The different types of antidepressants have different ways of combating the symptoms of depression. Other ways that are used to treat depression are free association therapy; operant conditioning which uses behavioral techniques such as pleasurable activities and rewarding behaviors that are not depressive;…

    • 991 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Major Depression (MDD) is a mental disorder characterized by episodes of all-encompassing low mood accompanied by low self-esteem and loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities.…

    • 510 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Depression, a serious medical illness that involves the brain, it is a disorder of the brain. Depression usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30. There are a variety of causes, including genetic, environmental, psychological, and biochemical factors. Some symptoms can include sadness, change in weight, difficulty sleeping or oversleeping, energy loss, feelings of worthlessness, loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy, and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression is a serious kind of mental illness that should be treated as soon as possible, before something undoable happens. Usually when depression reaches it climax the…

    • 856 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Persuasive Paper

    • 2251 Words
    • 10 Pages

    Major depression. The medical diagnosis for depression that lasts for at least two weeks and interferes with daily life. It causes symptoms like low energy, fatigue, and feelings of hopelessness.…

    • 2251 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    First of all it is important to understand what really constitutes depression. All of us feel down from time to time perhaps based on having a "bad day". However when feelings of sadness last for several weeks, months, or years, and are accompanied by other symptoms such as change of appetite, isolation from family and friends, sleeplessness, etc. these are symptoms of depression.…

    • 2258 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    At first, depression in a child or teen may appear as irritability, sadness, or sudden unexplained crying. He or she may lose interest in activities once enjoyed in the past or may feel unloved and hopeless. Some adolescents may also have problems in school and…

    • 1003 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The first type of depression I want to look at is Major depression. Major depression also known as clinic depression, is a very common type. Major (clinical) depression makes people feel sad or “down in the dumps” at some point in time in their life. This type of depression often starts first thing in the morning and gives you a depressed, sad feeling most of your day. It is very common in children and elderly people as well but goes undetected for years, if ever.…

    • 1135 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Major depressive disorder (MDD), more commonly known as depression, is a mental disorder characterized by a consistent and persistent low mood that is accompanied by low self-esteem and by a loss of interest or pleasure in normally enjoyable activities. Two of the most common symptoms include sadness and loss of interest in daily activities. Social, occupational, educational or other important functioning must also be negatively impaired by the change in mood. For instance, a person who has missed work or school because of their depression, or has stopped attending classes altogether or attending usual social engagements. A depressed mood caused by substances (such as drugs, alcohol, medications) is not considered a major depressive disorder, nor is one which is caused by a general medical condition. Major depressive disorder generally cannot be diagnosed if a person has a history of manic, hypomanic, or mixed episodes (e.g., a bipolar…

    • 1456 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Depression, according to the American Psychiatric Association, is a “serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.” Depression is a result of changes in your brain’s chemical makeup. Other factors, including genetics, stress or changes of hormone levels can all contribute to depression. Everyone experiences this illness differently and there…

    • 917 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Depression is a mood disorder that can cause a person to have severe feelings of despondency and dejection along with a loss of interest in daily life. A person’s behaviour, along with their feelings and thoughts can be affected by depression. This then can lead to a variety of physical problems for a person as well as also affecting their emotions. (Mayo Clinic, 2014). Depression can cause a number of psychological symptoms including a continuous low mood along with feelings of tearfulness, irritability and anxiousness. It can also cause a person to suffer from a number of physical symptoms such as constipation, low sex drive, a lack of energy and disturbed sleeping patterns. Depression is a disorder that affects people of all ages, backgrounds, lifestyle and nationality. Up to 20% of people will experience symptoms of depression at some point in their lives, with the average age of first onset being 25-29. It is estimated that 10x the amount of people suffer with depression now than they did in 1945 (NHS Choices, 2014).…

    • 2898 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Depression Notes

    • 3104 Words
    • 11 Pages

    The diagnosis of major depression requires the presence of at least 5 or more the following symptoms. Affective symptoms: sad, depressed mood, and feeling low…

    • 3104 Words
    • 11 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    Depression is best described as emotions or feeling a sense of hopelessness and inadequacy. In some form or fashion depression has hit each and every one of us to some degree. The effects depression can have on one’s life can vary from moderate to severe. This depends on the circumstances in which one is surrounded by.…

    • 558 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Depression

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Like many other illnesses, depression comes in many forms such as Major Depression (major depressive disorder) which causes sadness, anxious, or empty mood, feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, thoughts of suicide, difficulty concentrating and remembering or making decisions. Chronic major depression may require a person to continue treatment indefinitely. Another form is Dysthymia (dysthymic disorder) this involves long lasting symptoms that are not disabling, but keep one from functioning well or feeling good. Lastly, Bipolar (manic depressive illness) is distinguished by cycling mood changes. Persons with this disorder may experience highs (mania) and lows (depression). While in the manic cycle, the person may be over talkative and have a lot of energy. While you are in the depressed cycle, one can have any or all symptoms of depression. All people at some point in their life, have experienced feeling sad or…

    • 932 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Depression a serious medical condition in which a person feels very sad, hopeless, unimportant, anger without enthusiasm, and often is unable to live in a normal life.…

    • 421 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays