Major Depressive Disorder Research Paper
An Overview of Major Depressive Disorder Major Depressive Disorder, also referred to commonly as depression, is a brain disorder that causes both physical and psychological symptoms in the patients of whom it effects. Depression is very common, but the symptoms can be extremely severe and potentially deadly if left ignored or untreated for any significant period of time. The cause of depression can be a combination of genetic, environmental, and psychological factors. Depression is a chronic disorder and can affect someone’s life heavily because of the potentially dramatic decrease in quality of life. Although major depressive disorder effects everyone differently, suicide is a potential risk of the disorder and all cases of depression must
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be watched closely and taken extremely seriously. In order for a person be diagnosed with depression, their symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. This being said, a person that does not have depression may exhibit some of the symptoms of depression for a short period of time following an unpleasant event such as the death of a loved one or a divorce. These people may experience all the same symptoms of major depressive disorder, and appear to be depressed to an outsider looking into their life. These brief bouts of depressive symptoms are different from Major Depressive Order though because it will go away quickly, usually in less than two weeks, and the symptoms will not be reoccurring or chronic. Symptoms of depression can also be a symptom of other disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, or anxiety. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) is used as an aid in the diagnostic process of all mental illnesses, including depression and can help to differentiate depression from different mental illnesses that may have similar symptoms. It was estimated in 2015 that 16.1 million adults age eighteen years or older in the United States experienced at least one major depressive episode in the last year alone (Major Depression Among Adults). To put that in perspective, in 2014, the year this data was collected, the population of the United States was 317.5 million on January 1st (U.S. and World Population Clock Tell us what you think). That means more than one in every twenty people in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. Depression can be caused by a number of things, or have no apparent cause at all. The disorder is often triggered by a traumatic event, like death or disaster but does not need a definitive trigger; it can be a combination of many events over time, or appear to come on without any trigger at all. Often depression can stem from the genetics of a persons’ mother, father, or other ancestors, sometimes people can receive the genetic coding from someone who they weren’t even aware suffered from depression. Most commonly though, depression will be passed down genetic from either parents or grandparents. Major depressive disorder can also commonly be triggered by a traumatic event. This event could be something like a natural disaster, the death of a loved one, or something traumatic that happens to the person themselves like a car accident, assault, or injury that effects the life they previously lived. Symptoms of depression can vary from slight variations in personal habits such as appetite or sleeping to harming themselves or others.
There are both negative and positive side effects of depression. Negative side effects are characteristics or traits that the depressed person does not experience when they should be present. An example of a negative symptom of depression would be a withdrawn personality, a lack of personal hygiene or loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, such as sex or hobbies. Positive side effects are characteristics that the person experiences that are not healthy or normal. Examples of positive symptoms of depression may include hyperactive sleep cycles, self-harm, or even suicide. Depression can also be associated with thoughts and attempts of suicide. Thoughts of suicide should always be taken extremely seriously and should never be ignored or deemed to be just for attention like they often are. If a person is talking about suicide, even if it is just for attention, that person is struggling intensely and obviously needs immediate …show more content…
help. When these symptoms of depression last two years or longer, it is called persistent depressive disorder and it is considered a different diagnosis then major depressive disorder (Persistent depressive disorder). Persistent depressive order is characterized by a person who experiences predominately “bad” days almost every day for at least two years. Many cases of depression if not treated properly can become persistent depressive disorder. This particular type of depression is more likely to affect women, and often runs in family’s genetics. Diagnosing PPD in children or teens the mood can be irritable instead of depressed and lasts for at least one year instead of two (Persistent depressive disorder). Treatment is generally required to help those who struggle with depression. A psychoactive drug route can be taken. This would involve a prescription antidepressant. There is a widely varied market for these drugs and there many psychoactive drugs for the depressed person’s doctor or healthcare provider to choose from so that they get the best fit for that person. Psychoactive drugs are designed to be taken within a treatment plan that also involves some sort of therapeutic treatment as well. Clinical trials have demonstrate that antidepressant medications are clinically effective, along with some psychotherapies have significantly reduce the symptoms of depression (Olfson M, Marcus SC, Druss B, Elinson L, Tanielian T, Pincus HA). Although anti-depressive drugs have proven to be effective in many cases, it is important to understand that one drug may work for one person and not for the next. Finding the right medication for a patient often involves some amount of trial and error. It is also important to realize that antidepressant drugs are not designed to be used for a patients’ entire life, just while they are in there initial journey of curing their depression, but often these drugs are prescribed indefinably. For those who are hesitant of the idea of antidepressant drugs, there are other options for treating depression. Lifestyle changes have often proved to make a large impact on the symptoms of depression. Aerobic exercises specifically have been found to be helpful for more mildly depressed patients because it raises endorphin levels and stimulates the neurotransmitter norepinephrine which plays a large role in mood (MacGill, M). Being psychically active and eating healthy foods is a good way to start practicing a healthier lifestyle which can play a key role in recovering from depression. There are also some natural and homeopathic remedies. These remedies include the lifestyle and diet changes discussed earlier as well as some vitamins that patients that struggle with depression should try and take more of in their daily diet or in supplements. A new popular diet for depression is gaining popularity in the community of naturopathic doctors, the diet is called the “Happy Diet”. The Happy Diet consists of Additional to diet and exercise, it is now being by recent studies that acupuncture can be another effective homeopathic treatment for depression, anxiety, and other stress disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (Goetz, T.). Acupuncture has been used for treatment of pain for a long time but has only recently been studied extensively for use in treating mental illnesses. The military has begun to break ground in this area. Recently army doctors have been rethinking the way they treat post-traumatic stress disorder for soldiers who are currently in battle zones or leaving the force due to a traumatic event. Although there is criticism about the use of acupuncture for treatment of mental illness, it is becoming more and more excepted by medical professionals (Farmer, B.). Cognitive-behavioral treatment, also referred to as CBT, is another type of psychological intervention that was developed to address the cognitive distortions and deficits identified in depressed patients. Cognitive behavior therapy is puts emphasis on the importance of activities like keeping a diary and putting conversations from therapy into practice during the patient’s everyday routine. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also focuses on the importance of having a healthy schedule and creating routines that the patient can rely on. In some severe cases of depression, specifically cases of psychotic depression, it is common to see patients are not affected by drug treatments or cognitive therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. In cases like these electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used if deemed appropriate by a patients psychiatrist (MacGill, M). Electroconvulsive therapy is a much more aggressive treatment method and will only be used in extreme cases of depression. There are tight stipulations on when and how electroconvulsive therapy may be practice and has become a much more humane method over past decades, although it does still have serious side effects such as extreme loss of both long and short term memory. Additionally, follow-up care and education in coping skills need to be a regular part of ECT practice when patients do experience severe side effects (Donahue AB). The most important part of treatment for someone who is battling depression is having a strong support system. Whether that is through family, friends or a close support system at a treatment center such as a therapist or group that the person can attend regularly. Such a large part of depression is feeling helpless and lonely, making sure that a patient has positive people in their life that want to see he or she do well is detrimental. Being able to talk openly to another person about the way they are feeling can help to take away from the feeling of being alone. Once the patient knows that there are people that are routing for them, it can sometimes help to alleviate some of the feelings of helplessness, as well as feelings of emptiness. All in all, major depressive order is a complex mental illness that effects an increasingly large population of both men and women. Depression is one of the most common brain disorders treated in the United States and although it can in some cases be deadly, in most situations the patient will feel better with a combination of either psychoactive drugs or psychological counseling, keeping in mind that psychoactive drugs are not always necessary and often can be replaced with natural remedies and healthy lifestyle changes. Treating depression requires a healthy relationship between the patient and the healthcare provider as well as a strong support system. Although it may take changes in lifestyle, or daily routines and habits, there are many treatment options for depression making it possible to managed the disorder as long as the person with the disorder is willing to work hard to improve their own situation and state of mind.
Works Cited Donahue AB. Electroconvulsive Therapy and Memory Loss. JAMA. 2007;298(16):1862. doi:10.1001/jama.298.16.1862-a Farmer, B.
(2012, February 16). Military Pokes Holes In Acupuncture Skeptics' Theory. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2012/02/16/146944270/military-pokes-holes-in-acupuncture-skeptics-theory Goetz, T. (2015, September 28). Acupuncture for Stress and Depression? Yes, Please! Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/renaissance-woman/201509/acupuncture-stress-and-depression-yes-please MacGill, M. (n.d.). Depression: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/depression-causes-symptoms-treatments-8933 Major Depression Among Adults. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/major-depression-among-adults.shtml Olfson M, Marcus SC, Druss B, Elinson L, Tanielian T, Pincus HA. National Trends in the Outpatient Treatment of Depression. JAMA. 2002;287(2):203-209. doi:10.1001/jama.287.2.203 Persistent depressive disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000918.htm Richard Harrington; Depression, suicide and deliberate self-harm in adolescence. Br Med Bull2001; 57 (1): 47-60. doi: 10.1093/bmb/57.1.47 U.S. and World Population Clock Tell us what you think
https://www.census.gov/popclock/
be watched closely and taken extremely seriously. In order for a person be diagnosed with depression, their symptoms must be present for at least two weeks. This being said, a person that does not have depression may exhibit some of the symptoms of depression for a short period of time following an unpleasant event such as the death of a loved one or a divorce. These people may experience all the same symptoms of major depressive disorder, and appear to be depressed to an outsider looking into their life. These brief bouts of depressive symptoms are different from Major Depressive Order though because it will go away quickly, usually in less than two weeks, and the symptoms will not be reoccurring or chronic. Symptoms of depression can also be a symptom of other disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder, or anxiety. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–5) is used as an aid in the diagnostic process of all mental illnesses, including depression and can help to differentiate depression from different mental illnesses that may have similar symptoms. It was estimated in 2015 that 16.1 million adults age eighteen years or older in the United States experienced at least one major depressive episode in the last year alone (Major Depression Among Adults). To put that in perspective, in 2014, the year this data was collected, the population of the United States was 317.5 million on January 1st (U.S. and World Population Clock Tell us what you think). That means more than one in every twenty people in the United States had at least one major depressive episode. Depression can be caused by a number of things, or have no apparent cause at all. The disorder is often triggered by a traumatic event, like death or disaster but does not need a definitive trigger; it can be a combination of many events over time, or appear to come on without any trigger at all. Often depression can stem from the genetics of a persons’ mother, father, or other ancestors, sometimes people can receive the genetic coding from someone who they weren’t even aware suffered from depression. Most commonly though, depression will be passed down genetic from either parents or grandparents. Major depressive disorder can also commonly be triggered by a traumatic event. This event could be something like a natural disaster, the death of a loved one, or something traumatic that happens to the person themselves like a car accident, assault, or injury that effects the life they previously lived. Symptoms of depression can vary from slight variations in personal habits such as appetite or sleeping to harming themselves or others.
There are both negative and positive side effects of depression. Negative side effects are characteristics or traits that the depressed person does not experience when they should be present. An example of a negative symptom of depression would be a withdrawn personality, a lack of personal hygiene or loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities, such as sex or hobbies. Positive side effects are characteristics that the person experiences that are not healthy or normal. Examples of positive symptoms of depression may include hyperactive sleep cycles, self-harm, or even suicide. Depression can also be associated with thoughts and attempts of suicide. Thoughts of suicide should always be taken extremely seriously and should never be ignored or deemed to be just for attention like they often are. If a person is talking about suicide, even if it is just for attention, that person is struggling intensely and obviously needs immediate …show more content…
help. When these symptoms of depression last two years or longer, it is called persistent depressive disorder and it is considered a different diagnosis then major depressive disorder (Persistent depressive disorder). Persistent depressive order is characterized by a person who experiences predominately “bad” days almost every day for at least two years. Many cases of depression if not treated properly can become persistent depressive disorder. This particular type of depression is more likely to affect women, and often runs in family’s genetics. Diagnosing PPD in children or teens the mood can be irritable instead of depressed and lasts for at least one year instead of two (Persistent depressive disorder). Treatment is generally required to help those who struggle with depression. A psychoactive drug route can be taken. This would involve a prescription antidepressant. There is a widely varied market for these drugs and there many psychoactive drugs for the depressed person’s doctor or healthcare provider to choose from so that they get the best fit for that person. Psychoactive drugs are designed to be taken within a treatment plan that also involves some sort of therapeutic treatment as well. Clinical trials have demonstrate that antidepressant medications are clinically effective, along with some psychotherapies have significantly reduce the symptoms of depression (Olfson M, Marcus SC, Druss B, Elinson L, Tanielian T, Pincus HA). Although anti-depressive drugs have proven to be effective in many cases, it is important to understand that one drug may work for one person and not for the next. Finding the right medication for a patient often involves some amount of trial and error. It is also important to realize that antidepressant drugs are not designed to be used for a patients’ entire life, just while they are in there initial journey of curing their depression, but often these drugs are prescribed indefinably. For those who are hesitant of the idea of antidepressant drugs, there are other options for treating depression. Lifestyle changes have often proved to make a large impact on the symptoms of depression. Aerobic exercises specifically have been found to be helpful for more mildly depressed patients because it raises endorphin levels and stimulates the neurotransmitter norepinephrine which plays a large role in mood (MacGill, M). Being psychically active and eating healthy foods is a good way to start practicing a healthier lifestyle which can play a key role in recovering from depression. There are also some natural and homeopathic remedies. These remedies include the lifestyle and diet changes discussed earlier as well as some vitamins that patients that struggle with depression should try and take more of in their daily diet or in supplements. A new popular diet for depression is gaining popularity in the community of naturopathic doctors, the diet is called the “Happy Diet”. The Happy Diet consists of Additional to diet and exercise, it is now being by recent studies that acupuncture can be another effective homeopathic treatment for depression, anxiety, and other stress disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder (Goetz, T.). Acupuncture has been used for treatment of pain for a long time but has only recently been studied extensively for use in treating mental illnesses. The military has begun to break ground in this area. Recently army doctors have been rethinking the way they treat post-traumatic stress disorder for soldiers who are currently in battle zones or leaving the force due to a traumatic event. Although there is criticism about the use of acupuncture for treatment of mental illness, it is becoming more and more excepted by medical professionals (Farmer, B.). Cognitive-behavioral treatment, also referred to as CBT, is another type of psychological intervention that was developed to address the cognitive distortions and deficits identified in depressed patients. Cognitive behavior therapy is puts emphasis on the importance of activities like keeping a diary and putting conversations from therapy into practice during the patient’s everyday routine. Cognitive-behavioral therapy also focuses on the importance of having a healthy schedule and creating routines that the patient can rely on. In some severe cases of depression, specifically cases of psychotic depression, it is common to see patients are not affected by drug treatments or cognitive therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy. In cases like these electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) may be used if deemed appropriate by a patients psychiatrist (MacGill, M). Electroconvulsive therapy is a much more aggressive treatment method and will only be used in extreme cases of depression. There are tight stipulations on when and how electroconvulsive therapy may be practice and has become a much more humane method over past decades, although it does still have serious side effects such as extreme loss of both long and short term memory. Additionally, follow-up care and education in coping skills need to be a regular part of ECT practice when patients do experience severe side effects (Donahue AB). The most important part of treatment for someone who is battling depression is having a strong support system. Whether that is through family, friends or a close support system at a treatment center such as a therapist or group that the person can attend regularly. Such a large part of depression is feeling helpless and lonely, making sure that a patient has positive people in their life that want to see he or she do well is detrimental. Being able to talk openly to another person about the way they are feeling can help to take away from the feeling of being alone. Once the patient knows that there are people that are routing for them, it can sometimes help to alleviate some of the feelings of helplessness, as well as feelings of emptiness. All in all, major depressive order is a complex mental illness that effects an increasingly large population of both men and women. Depression is one of the most common brain disorders treated in the United States and although it can in some cases be deadly, in most situations the patient will feel better with a combination of either psychoactive drugs or psychological counseling, keeping in mind that psychoactive drugs are not always necessary and often can be replaced with natural remedies and healthy lifestyle changes. Treating depression requires a healthy relationship between the patient and the healthcare provider as well as a strong support system. Although it may take changes in lifestyle, or daily routines and habits, there are many treatment options for depression making it possible to managed the disorder as long as the person with the disorder is willing to work hard to improve their own situation and state of mind.
Works Cited Donahue AB. Electroconvulsive Therapy and Memory Loss. JAMA. 2007;298(16):1862. doi:10.1001/jama.298.16.1862-a Farmer, B.
(2012, February 16). Military Pokes Holes In Acupuncture Skeptics' Theory. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2012/02/16/146944270/military-pokes-holes-in-acupuncture-skeptics-theory Goetz, T. (2015, September 28). Acupuncture for Stress and Depression? Yes, Please! Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/renaissance-woman/201509/acupuncture-stress-and-depression-yes-please MacGill, M. (n.d.). Depression: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Retrieved from http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/kc/depression-causes-symptoms-treatments-8933 Major Depression Among Adults. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/major-depression-among-adults.shtml Olfson M, Marcus SC, Druss B, Elinson L, Tanielian T, Pincus HA. National Trends in the Outpatient Treatment of Depression. JAMA. 2002;287(2):203-209. doi:10.1001/jama.287.2.203 Persistent depressive disorder. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000918.htm Richard Harrington; Depression, suicide and deliberate self-harm in adolescence. Br Med Bull2001; 57 (1): 47-60. doi: 10.1093/bmb/57.1.47 U.S. and World Population Clock Tell us what you think
https://www.census.gov/popclock/