Depression And Its Effects On Depression

Thus far, I have learned about the pros and cons to using medication in treatment with clients. In addition, I have seen first hand the benefits of implementing medications in client’s treatment plan. From my understanding, Depression is one of the most prevalent illnesses in the world. Because of this fact it is important that we understand and explore all the implications surrounding the use and efficacy for treatment. In order to treat our clients with the best care possible, we as therapist should be educated on the types of medications for depression, the impact they have on the body, and their efficacy of improving symptoms and overall functioning. In this paper I will explore three articles about antidepressants and their efficacy for treating clients with depression. In addition, I will provide my overall reaction to the studies and the material provided for the efficacy of antidepressants for treating depression.

Depression is no exception. The medication approach is commonly used in conjugation with clinically-proven psychotherapy techniques (7). Drugs classified as antidepressants like Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) can be taken to reduce the effects of severe depression (9). These work by increasing the extracellular neurological transmitter, serotonin, to help decrease depression severity. While taking these drugs, patients can go through psychotherapy where psychologists utilize scientifically significant methods for increasing happiness, which, in turn, decreases depression (7).

In Exploring Psychology, Myers states that “depression is one of two disorders found worldwide” (521). On account of this fact, research and treatment of depression is widely studied. One of the biggest questions one must ask when it comes to treatment of depression, though, is what will actually benefit a person? The most popular ways to treat depression are cognitive behavioral therapy and pharmacotherapy; both are very different, but may have similar effects.

Major depressive disorder affects nearly 15 million of American adults in a given year. (Kessler, Chiu, Demler & Walters, 2005). With the impact it has on the society as well as the well-being of the individual, it must be in the interest of the healthcare to be able to provide patients with the most effective treatment method. Extensive research has been conducted on the efficacy of antidepressant medication and cognitive therapy, the two main treatment methods used for depression today. The discussion has, however, been characterized by conflicting claims, resulting in a debate over what should be used rather than us having a definite conclusion of how patients are best helped.

Cuijpers (2017) identifies that over the last 40 years there have been approximately 500 randomized trials looking at the efficacy of treating depression with psychological methods. The studies chosen provide insight into the lack of efficacy of antidepressant medication therapy, as well as the effectiveness of psychological therapies. The evidence provided in the studies appears to support one another.

Major depressive disorder affects nearly 15 million of American adults in a given year. (Kessler, Chiu, Demler & Walters, 2005). With the impact it has on the society as well as the well-being of the individual, it must be in the interest of the healthcare to be able to provide patients with the most effective treatment method. Extensive research has been conducted on the efficacy of antidepressant medication and cognitive therapy, the two main treatment methods used for depression today. The discussion has, however, been characterized by conflicting claims, resulting in a debate over what should be used rather than us having definite conclusion of how patients are best helped.

Antidepressants are used when the symptoms of a sufferer of anxiety or depression are persistent and severe. Anxiety is the general term used to describe an array of disorders that cause intense fear, apprehension, and distress (Cassiday, 2016). A depressive disorder is a disorder that causes persistent sadness and loss of hope and interest in life (Malhi et al., 2015). As antidepressants tend to have side effects whereas many other treatments do not, a sufferer of anxiety will commonly be initially treated with cognitive-behavioural therapy or other forms of talking therapy, meditation, exercise, and healthy eating if these treatments are not effective a patient will be considered to be prescribed medication (Cassiday, 2016). However patients that are prescribed antidepressants additionally are typically treated with other therapies, as the combination of different remedies is almost always far more effective than only one (Sethi, 2012).

The purpose of the article is to inform the readers of the progress being made on research for treatments of depression, express where there needs to be an improvement of progress, and correct any misconceptions that might cause people to conclude that depression is a simple issue with a straightforward solution.

In the United States alone, the Nation Alliance on Mental Illness stated that 16 million adults deal with depression each year (“Mental”). Depression is a common mental health disorder that people can acquire in today’s society. There are many forms of depression that exist ranging from mild to very severe. Some of those forms include major depression, seasonal affective disorder, postpartum depression, psychotic depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder. Many individuals with depression try to treat their illness by relying on antidepressants. Antidepressants are a popular form of treatment of depression because they can be easily obtained and require little effort from the person using them. However, there are many other natural,

In 2015, an estimated 6.7% of the adult American population experienced a depressive episode, as found by the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health. (Bose, J., 2016) With such high occurrence rates, it is safe to assume that depression will affect most people’s lives, either directly or indirectly. As one of the most common mental health disorders, it is a priority for treatment in health services around the world. One such method of treatment established by Arron T. Beck, 1967, is currently one of the most prominent therapeutic treatments around the world (Salkovskis, P., 1996).

In popular culture depression has become a thing that is seemingly almost sought after. A lot of youth use depression to have an edge or some kind of thing that makes them different. I feel like this ideology invalidates people with real mental illness and diagnosed depression. I say this but have also fallen victim to this aesthetic or aura that a lot of people portray.

As the literature remains inconclusive as to the relation between current major treatment modalities and depressive disorder, and given the extremities of the potential dangers of antidepressant medications, it is apparent that there is a need to develop new interventions, which show greater efficacy, safety, and acceptability.

Depression has numerous causes and effects which affect not only the person but the people around them. Depression doesn’t have a specific cause; in most cases it’s different for everyone. It is a common, treatable mental illness that can be experienced at any time in life. It is often described with feeling sad, unhappy, miserable, or “down in the dumps”. Most people have these feelings on occasion. There are several types of depression. These different types of depression describe slight, but often important, diagnostic differences. True clinical depression interferes with mood disorder in everyday life for weeks, months, or even years. Most people think depression affects only one

Depression is more than just a feeling of sadness; it can easily gain control of an individual’s life if these feelings continue.

“Depression” has often been misinterpreted with being sad and has caused for many doctors as well as other individuals to look at this mental illness differently to. Just like many other mental illness, the stigma attached to these illnesses prevent the people suffering from them to not get proper treatment, be seen differently, and often times get discriminated. Sara Dale used to suffer from depression and shared “I wasn't warned I could experience such intrusive thoughts. Because antidepressants are classed as the ‘happy pill’ I thought that that was how I would feel all the time. But it couldn't have been further from the reality. I felt nothing, just numb, neither happy or sad.The worst thing was, I became heavily dependent on them. When it came to withdrawing from them, it was hell. I was experiencing sweats, sickness, and suicidal thoughts. I'm not against medication as it can bring normality to some people's lives, but I don't think they should be dished out like smarties. They can have serious consequences – especially on a child's developing brain. I'm convinced that I now have short term memory loss as a result of those five years I spent on medication” (How Antidepressants 2016). Just like Sara Dale's case, many other patients only get prescribes antidepressants when suffering from depression and many other mental illnesses. The medication did help her but it was not the help she exactly was looking for. Patients want to feel happy again not just feel numb