A majority of people associate the root of depression with mental or emotional trauma, but they do not realize that in a large amount of cases depression is the result of a preventable problem outside of the brain. In The Lords of Discipline by Pat Conroy, multiple characters have to confront depression. John Poteete, an overweight freshman cadet at the Institute, and Annie Kate Gervais, a southern girl with an undesired pregnancy, exhibit all the signs of depression throughout the novel to the point of attempting or committing suicide. Even though they are facing events that are mentally and emotionally distressing, that is not the only reason they are suffering. Depression is not solely caused by psychological circumstances, but can be traced …show more content…
In a WebMD article, “Depression, the Thyroid, and Hormones”, it points out that, “The glands in the endocrine system influence growth and development, mood, sexual function, reproduction, and metabolism. Levels of certain hormones, such as those produced by the thyroid gland, can be factors in depression. In addition, some symptoms of depression are associated with thyroid conditions” (WebMD 1). This confirms the idea that problems outside of the brain can be linked to depression. Afflictions that break down the thyroid, such as Hashimoto’s and hypothyroidism, are beginning to be recognized by psychiatrists and tested for, before a depression diagnosis or prescription for antidepressants. Doctor Izabella Wentz, a clinical pharmacist and thyroid specialist, explains how in a trial for depression medication, “only 30% of people were 'responders' to most antidepressants” (Wentz 1). She also establishes that “medical studies have shown that up to one-third of people who fail antidepressants report feeling better once started on Cytomel (a T3, thyroid hormone)” (Wentz 1). Depression is not always as daunting as it is depicted. People battling depression do not need to pay thousands of dollars for medicine that targets regions of the body that do not hold the true …show more content…
In another article written by Kelly Brogan, a psychiatrist with a degree in cognitive neuroscience, she uncovers that, “not a single study has proven that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain” (Brogan 1). Although it was common belief that depression was tied to a chemical imbalance from distressing life experiences, it is now apparent that this theory is lacking proof. People are still misdiagnosed when nothing is actually wrong with their brain. This can be seen with another example, that comes from one of Doctor Izabella Wentz’s readers. The reader had been taking antidepressants for several months and decided to be tested for Hashimoto’s. She found that she only needed thyroid medication to improve her depression instead of spending money on expensive psychiatric care (Wentz 1). Patients are lacking proper treatment since their treatment is not addressing the cause of their predicament. This is not only affecting the several people examined in this argument, but is impacting millions. There are “30 million users in America” alone (Brogan 1). To a greater extent, antidepressants “are among the most prescribed, best-selling drugs” (Brogan 1). This indicates that there are millions of people who are mistreated and have depression. Physical
Anatomy of an Epidemic: Magic Bullets, Psychiatric Drugs, and the Astonishing Rise of Mental Illness in America is my chosen book to for the class. Following excerpts and reviews, the book challenges the darker side of medications and what they exactly do to patients. The number of mentally ill has been highest in the past two decades, and it not only plagues adults, but children as well. One would think that the advancements in medicine would prevent this statistic going up, but it has not. Robert Whitaker investigates into the matter and explains the dangers of the medications, such as anti-depressants.
Approximately 151 million people are currently combating major depressive disorder (MDD) worldwide (Haddad & Gunn, 2011). Major depressive disorder (MDD) affects around one in six men, and one in four women during any given moment of their lives, and in any twelve-month period, nearly five percent of individuals in their surrounding communities are depressed (Haddad & Gunn, 2011). Depressive episodes may appear at any age; however, MDD is most prevalent in adults who are eighteen-years-old to sixty-four-years-old, with a median age of onset being the twenties (Hillhouse & Porter, 2015). The treatment of MDD often consists of evidence-based treatments (EBTs) that include selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), and cognitive-behavioral
Whether we are becoming a more depressed population or simply changing the standards by which we diagnose is an area of some controversy. What is certain is that the medical system is now processing and treating—with ever-changing cocktails of psychotherapy, support groups, and pharmaceuticals—20% more Americans every year than the year before. Depression—together with its aftermath—is a staggering epidemic sweeping the country, ravaging countless lives in its
Also, the patient 's thyroid status should be assessed. A University of North Carolina study has proved that depression is three times more likely for those with hypothyroidism than those with normal thyroid function (Dranov).
One of the most common psychiatric disorders is known as clinical depression and affects anywhere between 3% and 13% of the population with some form of depressive symptoms affecting as much as 20% of the adult population at some point in their lives (Amenson & Lewinson, 1981; Kessler et al., 1994; Oliver & Simmons, 1985, as cited in Antonuccio, Danton, & DeNelsky, p. 574). The concept of ‘harmful dysfunction’ advanced by Horwitz and Wakefield (2007) describes two key components of clinical depression: a dysfunctional mechanism and the dysfunction being harmful to the individual (as cited in, Parker & Paterson, p.405). This paper explores the following questions: what does research indicate about clinical depression and what are the implications for treatment? Reviews are presented in regards to the emergence of depression and psychotherapy versus medication to treat clinical depression. Considerations are briefly discussed and the research paper will conclude with an interpretation of the critical points.
Americans are now spending billions of dollars on psychiatric medications but according to Frances “We are ignoring the people who have severe psychiatric illness; so that, one-third of people with severe depression see a mental health clinician, two-thirds don’t. Two-thirds of people with severe depression get no treatment at all. At the same time, we’re way over-diagnosing people who have milder problems that would get better on their own.” Diagnosis can cause more harm than good when not really needed. We are over-treating those who don’t need treatment, while neglecting those who do.
However, our current inclination to refer to and think of depression as a “chemical imbalance” rather than a “state in mind” has not significantly affected the rate at which people are diagnosed with clinical depression, nor impeded its treatment.
The general public increasingly attributes mental disorders to biological causes such as a chemical imbalance or inherited genes (Schnittker, 2008; Schomerus et al., 2012).
it. Since depression is a chemical off-balance in the head, the hormones that are in the
(3) While successful drug therapies which act on neurotransmitters in the brain imply that depression is a neurobiological condition (4), the fact that such medications do not help about 20 percent of depression-sufferers seems to show that not all depression is due to such imbalances. Rather, depression is not caused by one single factor; it is most often caused by many different things. Genetics, biochemical factors, medicines and alcohol, developmental and other external factors, and relationships, marriage and children all have effect on the development of clinical depression. (5) The strongest hypotheses on the pathways to depression are in decreases in the activity of specific neurotransmitters, or the overactivity of certain hormonal systems. (3)
The first step to treating many of these new cases of depression is the prescription and use of antidepressant medication, however this has cause a mass flooding of our society with unnecessary prescription drugs. Due to the ease of treatment, primarily with prescription drugs, and the large range of severity in depression is often over diagnosed, adding to the problem.
Hook: The recognition of depression as a common mental illness should lead to studies regarding what form of treatment is best for a patient, but antidepressants seem to be the unimpressive go-to.
Some say that “doctors are overdosing normal sadness to major depression” and that antidepressants actually make the situation worse or bring on depression that wasn’t there. For some people taking antidepressants may have effective results for a short time, but they actually increase the odds of chronical illness. Society is becoming more isolated and independent , where people live daily in irritation and aggressive lifestyles, which causes people to rebel. That everyday we all go through periods of hopelessness, which is true, but depression is where it's constant and tears you apart.” The most common explanations for the mental illness epidemic include recent overdiagnosis of psychiatric disorders, diagnostic expansionism, and psychiatry's pathologizing normal behavior”( ), or that it's easier to qualify or check the box for depression for a lot more people. Mental Illnesses put a lot of stress and disorder in the hostess life and isn’t just an over diagnostic or an act of rebellion.
Depression is a psychological condition where a person continues to feel miserable most of the time or nearly every day (World Health Organisation (WHO), 2015). As stated by the WHO (2015), mental disorders comprise of an overabundance of problems, with different symptoms. However, the symptoms are normally considered as a mixture of feelings, having difficulties with bonding with people, uncharacteristic interpretations, and actions (WHO, 2015). For example, as specified in Katy’s scenario, some of her presenting symptoms are weight loss, loss of appetite, low mood and having disturbing thoughts. This essay targets to outline the concepts of neuroscience and psychopathology in relation to mental health. Therefore, it will commence by identifying the role of serotonin in depression and how it relates to Katy’s presenting symptoms. In addition, this essay will explain legal and ethical issues which have an effect on clients and service providers within the circumstance of mental health. This essay will also identify Katy’s rights and restrictions under section 11 of The Mental Health Act (MHA) (Compulsory Assessment & Treatment) (CAT) 1992. Lastly, there will be consideration of two ethical principles, autonomy, and non-maleficence.
One of the scariest emotional experiences a person can ever suffer during their lifetime is to experience a form of depression. Over one in five Americans can expect to get some form of depression in their lifetime. Over one in twenty Americans have a depressive disorder every year. Depression is one of the most common and most serious mental health problems facing people today. However, depression is often not taken seriously because of the large use of antidepressant drugs and the large number of sufferers. Depression is a serious illness and should be taken as so. Contrary to the popular misconceptions about depression today, it is a serious and deadly disorder.1