Introduction To begin, millions of people are diagnosed with depression every year in the United States. There are a few different classifications of depression, but the most commonly diagnosed is major or clinical depression. Major depressive disorder occurs when an individual feels depressed and has a loss of interest in normal activities for at least two weeks. There are many symptoms associated with major depressive disorder, which include: fatigue, loss of energy, impaired concentration, feelings of worthlessness, insomnia and thoughts of suicide. Major depressive disorder can also cause many emotional, social and physical problems for the individual and family members, which will be outlined in this essay, in addition to possible …show more content…
Depression has been recorded in historical documents throughout time. Initially, “ depression was called “melancholia”, and the earliest scenario occurred during ancient Mesopotamian texts in the second millennium B.C” (Nemade, Reiss & Dombeck, 2007). During that period in history, people believed that all mental illnesses were due to demonic possession. Thus, only priests treated mental illness and physicals treated physical injuries. The only way to treat depression during that time was through exorcisms, drowning or burning. It was not until 1621, when Robert Burton published Anatomy of Melancholy, that people began to think of depression differently. Burton believed that, “Depression was caused from social causes, such as: poverty, fear and solitude” (Nemade, Reiss & Dombeck, 2007). He also believed that treatment should include: improved diet, exercise, herbal remedies and musical therapy. Then, during the Age of Enlightenment (the 18th and 19th centuries), it was thought that depression was inherited and it caused an unchangeable weakness of character. That thinking lead people to believe that depressed individuals should be locked up and put into …show more content…
Medication is prescribed to depressed patients because it helps to correct imbalances of the neurotransmitters in the brain. Specifically, serotonin and norepinephrine are the neurotransmitters affected by depression. The most popular class of antidepressants is called selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). SSRIs work by changing the balance of serotonin in the brain, which allows the chemical messages to be sent that impact happiness. Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) work in a similar manor, expect they target a different neurotransmitter in the brain. The reason these two classes of antidepressants are prescribed frequently is because they have fewer side effects compared to other antidepressants. Although, there are still significant side effects when the person first begins taking the medication, which can include: headaches, jitters or insomnia (Depression, n.d.). Antidepressant’s take about four to six weeks before they have their full effect, and they need to be taken after the person feels better, in order to prevent depression from
Major depressive disorder is a common mental disorder characterized by low mood, decreased mental and motor activity, pessimistic view of everything around, loss of interest in life. It is one of the most common types of depression, in contrast with other type depression, major depression represent complex of symptoms. Major depression is also known as major depressive disorder, clinical depression or unipolar depression. The word unipolar refers to the presence of one "pole" - a range of emotions, which is characterized by only one type mood, without manic episode. According to the WHO about 350 million people is suffered from depression. It damages not only people with depression, also to the relatives and other. Mullarkey et.al. suggest that due to reduced ability to work of depressed workers employers annually loss approximately 30 billions $. Thesis statement_____ Preview_______
Major Depressive Disorder has claimed the lives of up to 15% of those suffering from the disorder through suicide (Belmaker & Agam, 2008). Different people are effected by depression in different ways. Some individuals, like Raquel, suffer from loss of interest, feelings of worthlessness, along with thoughts of suicide (Fave & Kendler, 2000). Others go on with their daily routine with a smile on their face, while hiding their emotions. Although most individuals will experience depressed mood or general loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed (Spaner, Bland, & Newman, 2007).
Major depressive disorder, we all have probably heard of it, but do we really know what is it is ? Major depressive disorder is “a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest… major depressive disorder or clinical depression, affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems”(Mayo Clinic Staff). Having this disorder puts you in a very unstable position because you are constantly feeling depressed so it affects the way you think and feel and that can be very dangerous. Sometimes this happens to a person for one day, but put yourself in the shoes of someone who experiencing this for more than two weeks? When you have major depressive disorder, the signs of depression disorder can last for two weeks or more(myers646). This dis order must be treated immediately because “depression may make you feel as if life isn 't worth living”(Mayo Clinic Staff). Feeling this way can lead you to doing things that you can not take back such as committing suicide and sadly that can happen when you have major depressive disorder. Kiyohara and Yoshimasu conducted a research that showed that 90% of suicides have were dealing with major depressive disorder(qtd. in The World Health Organization). Throughout this paper I will be discussing the causes, symptoms and treatment when dealing with major depressive disorder.
Mental disorders can be diagnosed in infancy, childhood, or adolescence. Major depression is a lost of interest or pleasure in all activities. People with major depression experience symptoms such as a change of appetite, restlessness sleep, decreased energy, feeling of worthlessness, difficulty concentrating, and/or suicidal thoughts. A major depressive episode can lasts for about 2 weeks or more. A major depressive episode can be caused by stress, social anxiety, or other reasons. People with a milder depression are able to function and seem normal (DSM-IV-TR). A major depressive disorder affects about 14.8 million adults in America with 6.7 million at age 18 and older in the United States population. A depressive disorder can develop in any age and more likely to occur more often in women than in men and any person who is going through a hard time can develop depression. A treatment for individuals with depression is medication, psychotherapy, or attending social groups, 80 percent of the people who follow up with these treatments begin to show improvement with in four to six weeks. About 50 percent of the patients that take medicine to “cure” the depression are unsuccessful with the treatment, because they stop taking their meds due to the side effects, but the people who are in the support
Major depression is a commonly diagnosed psychological disorder affecting individuals’ ability to feel happiness and peace of mind. Those who suffer experience negative emotions, lack of motivation, changes in behaviour and dysfunctional cognitive symptoms. Depression is classified by the Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders Fifth Edition (DSM-5) as five of more of the listed symptoms present persistently over the same two weeks. One of these symptoms must be depressed mood or loss of interest in previously pleasurable activities. Depression causes disruption to typical daily life such as inability to maintain friendships and jobs. Other symptoms outlined by the DSM-5 include; insomnia, fatigue and recurrent thoughts of death. There is much debate over what exactly causes depression. Biological explanations question hereditary and neurotransmitter factors. While psychological theories include the cognitive ideas of Beck’s negative triad and hopelessness theory. This essay will focus on the ways in which psychological and biological explanations contrast and how their theories can overlap to better understand depression.
Major depressive disorder is a condition when a person experiences two or more weeks of depressed mood or lack of interest in things that usually gave them pleasure not due to any drugs or other medical condition. For this condition to be present a person must show at least five signs of depression (classified as: depressed mood most of the day; diminished interest in activities; significant weight loss or weight gain when not dieting; insomnia or too much sleep; lethargy; fatigue; feelings of worthlessness or inappropriate guilt; difficulty concentrating or thinking; and recurrent thoughts of death or suicide). Bipolar disorder on the other hand is when an individual alternates between hopelessness and an overexcited state of mania. Mood disorders run in families. Women are at twice the risk of having depression and today we find that depression is widespread. Although the majority of depressive episodes end on their own they are usually induced by a stressful event. The risk of suicide or self-injury is higher in individuals who are
Depression is the lack of the chemical compound C10H12N2O or Serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter, made in the brain to help relay messages from one area or the brain to the other. As a result of serotonin being released throughout one's entire body it is believed to influence a majority of the bodies functions. (WEBMD.) Antidepressants alter the level of serotonin in the person's body, however, if one has excessive serotonin the outcomes could result in mania, agitation, and sometimes even death. Those outcomes are the reason that many doctors suggest going to therapy before prescribing an
three groups.Monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) medicines block the monoamine oxidase enzyme (MAO) from destroying monoamine neurotransmitters, which allows them to accumulate, alleviating depression. Serotonin selective reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) medications block the serotonin reuptake pump, allowing the serotonin neurotransmitter to remain and accumulate in the receptor for longer. Speaking of serotonin specifically, depression has been related to a deficiency of the 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) neurotransmitter as evidenced by the concentrations of the
Antidepressants work by changing the activity of the chemicals in brain, which regulate mood. There are various forms of antidepressant, including: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin and noradrenalin reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) (mind.org.uk). The chemicals that are affected depends on the type of antidepressant. For example, SSRIs alter the reuptake of serotonin, a neurotransmitter responsible for mood and emotion, allowing more serotonin to be available, which in turn elevates mood.
Depression is a product of diminished levels of serotonin in the brain, in which there are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) available for patients to can take. The purpose of anti-depressants is to assist with the transportation of serotonin to the brain. The function of SSRIs at the synaptic cleft is to increase serotonin levels. Anti-depressants or SSRIs work to increase serotonin levels at the synapse by blocking serotonin reuptake. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have become the drug of choice for patients with depression. SSRIs produce less side effects then other anti-depressants due to their controlled action to reuptake serotonin. Prozac (a very commonly used SSRI), for example, has developed so widely that it is not only used to treat depression. Even though SSRIs are successful way of handling depression, they do still harvest harmful side
Within the textbook required in this course, there are many disorders that can be chosen from to write about. For this research paper, the disorder that was chosen was depression and then to make it narrower, the disorder that was chosen is major depressive disorder. This essay goes through the etiology, some symptoms of major depression, the treatment for when a diagnosis is made, and the cultural impact of major depressive disorder.
Depression is a normal emotional reaction to perceived loss and hopelessness (Segal, Williams, & Teasdale, 2002). There are a number of different types of depression such as chronic depression, manic depression and the primary focus of this essay Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). MDD is a clinical depression, which is more chronic and more severe compared to other types of depression. It significantly disrupts the individual’s ability to meet the normal demands of life. According to many clinicians, clinical depression should be considered as a medical illness in need of medical intervention. Other mental health professionals believe this is an overstatement of the role of physiology and the
People of all ages, backgrounds, and walks of life have felt depressed and unhappy at some time in their lives. These periods of sadness usually pass after a short time, but for some people, this feeling can remain for weeks, months, and even years. (1) This prolonged state of unhappiness is called major (or clinical) depression and is characterized by a persistent sad or "empty" mood, loss of interest in favorite activities, difficulty concentrating, and many other symptoms. It is not simply a mental state but an illness that interferes with the way people feel, function, and think.(2)
One of the largest trends in neuroscience in the United States today is the usage of a pharmaceutical treatment option for those suffering from depression. While there are a host of other potential treatment options ranging from psychotherapy to electric convulsion therapy (for the most severely depressed patients), anti-depressant medication is far and away the most popular treatment. In fact, in 2011 more than 1 in 10 Americans over the age of 12 was using a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) in order to combat their depression (Krystal, 2011). The medical and psychological community has had a raging debate regarding the efficacy of SSRI’s since they became widely prescribed in the late 1990’s. This paper will summarize
Burton explains rather than to look at depression as an imbalance, look at it as a signal ,a warning much the same as with a physical injury we get pain, this is your body/brain telling you something needs addressing. Is this just environmental and we all suffer from time to time, we all have times of feeling depressed when we all lead busy stressful lives and situations and situations manage to get on top of us for a temporary time and then it passes untill the next stress. Are we therefore medicating depression too easily?