Understanding Depression

10 Jan

It is normal for anyone to feel the blues at some point in life. This is a temporary condition that sets us back from our daily tasks and activities. However, if it persists and begins to interfere with your daily life and normal functioning, you may be suffering from a mental disorder known as depression.

In many cases, people who are depressed ignore the symptoms as a fleeting phase that will disappear in time. This is a grave mistake and professional opinion is advised before it leads to anything severe. Depression is a grave condition that may have profound impact if left untreated. Primary treatment generally consists of putting the patient on medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.

Types of Depression

• Major depression or Clinical Depression is a type where a depressive mood pervades throughout the day.

• Dysthymia or Chronic depression is differentiated from the other types by its long-term duration. Dysthymia or Chronic depression is when one is afflicted with a depressive illness over a long time, sometimes lasting for decades.

• Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) – is a depression that occurs during certain times of the year.

• Bipolar disorder or Manic depressive illness is marked by sudden shifts in mood and energy.

• Antepartum or Postpartum Depression occurs during a pregnancy.

Diagnosing Depression

Depression is diagnosed by a general practitioner, psychologist or a psychiatrist. The professional who has the competence to diagnose depression is a general practitioner, psychologist or a psychiatrist. Assessment procedures generally include a physical exam and laboratory tests to rule out other physical, medical or mental diagnoses that may have caused the depressive condition. If caused by another illness, treatment of the primary condition may appease the patient’s depression.

There are ailments and injuries that trigger depression. Depression can be attributed to some illnesses and injuries. These include central nervous system tumors, head trauma, multiple sclerosis, stroke, syphilis and various cancers (pancreas, prostate, breast). Medications for diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, asthma and over-the counter appetite suppressants may also cause depression. Laboratory tests are sometimes necessary to validate existing illnesses in a patient. Among these are Blood test, CT scan or MRI of the brain, electrocardiogram (ECG) and electroencephalogram (EEG).

In addition, Depression Screening Tests are administered to further assess the patient’s depressive symptoms. These are questionnaires designed to produce insights on the patient’s mood and how it impacts on the patient’s life. A good example of this is a two-part questionnaire where the patient is asked the following:

1. During the past month, have you been bothered by feeling down, depressed, or hopeless?

2. During the past month, have you been bothered by little interest or pleasure in doing things?

Research studies have shown that these two questions, along with another test, are useful and effective in validating various cases of depression. Some of the screening tools used are:

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) – a 21-question multiple-choice self-report that measures the severity of depression symptoms and feelings. Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) is a 21-question with multiples that gauge the severity level of the depression.

Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale – a short survey to gauge the level of depression, ranging from normal to a severe case.

Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) is a tool for patients to assess their feelings, behavior and disposition from the previous week.

Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HRSD) or Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), HAM-D is another tool that measures the severity level of the patient’s depression.

The patient’s openness and honesty are critical as his responses will help doctors make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe the most effective treatment . Once the depressive condition is validated, the patient needs to follow the treatment and advice given by their doctor.

Antidepressants have been among the widely prescribed medications due to the prevalence of depression. Over the years, legal cases, such as Paxil lawsuit, against drug manufacturers have escalated due to the side effects of drugs borne by the patients. Antidepressants remain a popular treatment choice for depression.

URL References:

nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/women-and-depression-discovering-hope/how-is-depression-diagnosed-and-treated.shtml
webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-tests