Depression
A MOOD DISORDER
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Depression and anxiety are part and parcel of our lives. These manifest as part of our normal emotions, reactions and feelings. |
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However when these reactions tend to be severe, are out of proportion to the adversaries faced by the individual in life and are not befitting with the reality, they are labeled as psychological disorders and need proper treatment. |
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Depression is a grave, even life threatening disorder which may not only decrease quality of life but may end up in patient committing suicide, not to mention that it may aggravate other medical illness like hypertension, angina, diabetes. |
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Left untreated, depression increases with time and becomes difficult to treat and even resistant to treatment. |
Depression an under diagnosed problem.
What is depression ?
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Mood or Affective disorder. |
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Core symptom is gloomy mood. |
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Results in disturbed emotional expressions. |
Facts & figures.
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| Single largest psychiatric disorder. |
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| Depression as a reaction which is out of proportion needs medical attention. |
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| Prevalence. >20% (females), <10% (males). |
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| Under diagnosed, under treated problem |
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| 80 % seek help from family doctors. |
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| Most common presentation is physical. |
Misunderstandings and Misconceptions about depression.
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There are many misunderstandings and misconceptions regarding these common psychiatric illnesses. |
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These are considered as not real illnesses, and people around are more hostile than sympathetic. |
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Patients try to fight the disease of their own without medical treatment and their condition deteriorates from bad to worse. |
Incidence and etiology of depression.
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Depression occurs at all ages and in both the sexes, more so in women. |
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The disease is the result of interplay of genetic or constitutional factors, adverse circumstances and lack of support from relatives, peer groups and society. |
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Failure to recognize the disease and proper treatment only helps in aggravating the disease. |
Biology of depression.
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It has been proved medically that levels of certain neurotransmitters (chemicals) of brain go down in genetically predisposed (susceptible) individuals, who are exposed to adverse circumstances causing symptoms of depression. |
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Proper management including treatment with medicines, psychotherapy and correcting the adverse environment can cure this disease permanently. |
Symptoms of depression.
Patient presents with psychological or psychic symptoms and somatic or physical symptoms.
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The psychological or psychic symptoms include low mood, sadness, tearfulness, and loss of interest or pleasure, lack of energy, fatigue, loss of concentration, feeling of worthlessness, guilt and suicidal thoughts. |
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Social effects of depression include withdrawal, neglect of family and friends, poor efficiency at work and decreased social mixing. |
Management of depression includes.
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Proper understanding by the patient and his family about the existence of disease, urgent need for its treatment and implications of leaving it unattended. |
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Reassuring the patient, about the safety of |
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The drug treatment. psychotherapy and support by the family members, relatives, peer groups and people at place of work can ensure speedy and full recovery of this curable disease. |