Depression
Abby Falgren 7th Hour
What is Depression?
Major depressive disorder is characterized by a combination of symptoms that interfere with a person's ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and enjoy once-pleasurable activities.
There are times you may feel sad, lonely, or hopeless for a few days. But major depression -- clinical depression -- lasts longer and is disabling. It can prevent you from functioning normally. An episode of clinical depression may occur only once in a person's lifetime. More often, though, it recurs throughout a person's life.
What Are The Effects of Depression?
Symptoms
1. Depressed Mood:
A person may report feeling "sad" or "empty" or may cry frequently. Children and adolescents may exhibit irritability.
2. Decreased Interest or Pleasure:
A person may show markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, daily activities.
3. Weight Changes:
Significant changes in weight when not attempting to gain or lose (a gain or loss of 5% or more in a month) may be indicative of depression. In children, this may also present as a failure to make expected weight gains.
4. Sleep Disturbances:
Insomnia or sleeping too much may be a symptom of depression.
5. Psychomotor Agitation or Retardation:
The person may be observed to be either agitated and restless or physically slowed down in their movements.
6. Fatigue:
Deep fatigue or a loss of energy is a symptom of depression.
7. Feelings of Worthlessness or Guilt:
A depressed person may feel that they have no value or they may feel inappropriately guilty about things they have no control over.
8. "Brain Fog":
A depressed person may have a diminished ability to think, concentrate or make decisions.
9. Thoughts of Death:
A depressed person may have frequent thoughts of death and suicide, although they may or may not have an actual plan for carrying it out.
Long Term Effects
If depression goes untreated for a long period of time, a person may start to experience effects that are detrimental to their overall health.
These effects may include:
1.Damaged or Lost Relationships:
Depression makes it very difficult to communicate with those you care for. People who are in relationships with someone with untreated depression may get angry, not understand, or feel let down.
3.Self Harm or Self Mutilation:
A person struggling with depression may turn to self harm. Each person may resort to this for different reasons whether it be to control their emotional pain, to punish themselves, to free themselves from emotional numbness, etc. There are many different types of self harm, some of them being: cutting, burning, scratching, etc.
4.Suicide:
Depression may cause a person to have suicidal thoughts, and in turn they may attempt suicide.
Who to talk to?
Friends and Family
Psychiatrists and Psychologists
Mankato Clinic Department of Psychiatry and Psychology
The Mankato Clinic’s Department of Psychiatry and Psychology is located in a private and comfortable setting in the Madison East Center, Suite 352.
Mankato Clinic Psychiatrists evaluate, diagnose, treat and prevent illnesses that interfere with emotional and behavioral health. Psychiatric assessment typically includes a review of physical and mental conditions as well as discussion about development, previous physical and mental illnesses, social circumstances, and relationships.
Mankato Clinic Psychologists work with the individual to gain understanding of how emotional, social, cognitve, health related and developmental concerns affect behavioral functioning across lifespan. Psychological services include assesments, psychological evaluation and psychotherapy.
Other services provided by the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology include initial evaluations/consultations, medication management, bipolar affective disorder group therapy.
Website: http://www.mankatoclinic.com/psychiatry-and-psychology
Location: 1400 Madison Avenue, Mankato, MN
Phone: 5073873195
Depression in the Media
Demi Lovato
Glee
Advances
Advances in Diagnosing Depression
Project ENIGMA was created three years ago and scientists from Australia to the Netherlands have been studying the data supplied from thousands of brain scans.
The scale of the project allowed the team to discover new genetic variants in people who have bigger brains and also unearthed genes that explain a person’s intelligence. Sauthor of the study, Paul Thompson said: For the first time, we have watertight evidence of how these genes affect the brain. This supplies us with new leads on how to mediate their impact.” Project ENIGMA will next search for genes that influence how the brain is wired by mapping the communication pathways between cells in the living brain, as disorders such as autism and schizophrenia disrupt the brain’s circuitry.
Advances in Depression Treatment
Bibliography
http://www.choicecaregroup.com/blog/index.php?entry=entry120420-081537
http://www.mankatoclinic.com/psychiatry-and-psychology
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/causes-depression
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/causes-depression
http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/depression-types