Eliminating the Depths of Depression with Modern Medicine
Depression is like drowning with no hope for air. Of course, everyone hits that point in their life when everything seems to be unbearably hard, but until one lives with depression one will never know the damage it brings. Untreated depression is the number one cause of suicide today. There are many causes and solutions to this problem starting from genetics to therapy. Depression is a serious problem in our world today, especially if one is ignorant on the subject.
Depression is defined as feelings of severe despondency and dejection. Research on this problem has progressed for centuries. Depression, which is initially called “Melancholia”, appeared in ancient Mesopotamian texts in
…show more content…
Child abuse is the most reported cause of clinical depression. “In one study, eighty percent of twenty-one year olds who reported childhood abuse met the criteria for at least one psychological disorder (Childhelp.org).” The resulting disorders mainly pertain to depression, suicide attempts, and alcoholism. Another cause of this terrible disease is death or loss of a loved one. Death is very hard to overcome. After death is a grieving process. Accepting and minding those steps eventually help you to get through the loss. When the grieving process is prolonged it is usually diagnosed as [Complicated Grief Disorder] or depression. Lastly, substance abuse, such as drugs and alcohol, plays a big role in this detrimental disorder. “Men diagnosed with major depression are nearly three times more likely to develop a dependence on alcohol, while women with depression are over four times more likely to become alcohol-dependent.” (Futures of Palm Beach)
There are reports that major depressive disorder affects approximately 14.8 million American adults, or about 6.7 percent of the U.S. population age eighteen and older, in a given year. Statistics also show that women are more susceptible to clinical depression, the lifetime generality of major depression is 20-26 percent for females and 8-12 percent for males. Depression usually starts in people at the age of 18-24 but worsens in a persons mid forty’s until late sixty’s. (DBS Alliance) With so many people affected, many wonder
Throughout the nation and our world people are suffering from this disease. Depression affects people of both genders, all ages, and any background. The history of mental illness, specifically depression were extremely helpful in today’s treatment and diagnosis. We know that all individuals are different and because of this, we can assume that each case of mental illness, more specifically depression, is unique in its own way as well. One treatment that is very effective for one person may not be equally as effective in a similar case simply because of the differences in patients. History, types of depression, symptoms, and treatments are all equally important in finding ways to help one who is suffering from depression.
Depression is a health condition that can affect a person emotionally and physically. Untreated, depression can even lead to suicide, which is the third-leading cause of death among people under the age of 18 (“Antidepressant Drugs” 1). Depression
According to Barlow (2008), major depressive disorder (MDD) is the most common depressive disorder and affects million of Americans each year. The symptoms experienced by individuals with MDD can be debilitating. The Global Burden of Disease Study, initiated by the World Health Organization, estimated depression to be the fourth leading cause of disability in the world (Barlow, 2008). To further examine this, The National Comorbidity Survey Replication (NCS-R) found that each year roughly 13 million
Evidence shows that Major Depression Disorder has been around four thousands of years. In the fourth century BC, Hippocrates referred to a group of symptoms including loss of appetite, insomnia, flat affect, and irritability as melancholia (Jackson). Taking accountability of melancholia appeared in ancient Mesopotamian texts in the second millennium B.C. At this time, any mental illness had something to do with the demons. It had to be checked by the priests. The first time that there was an understanding of depression it was truly considered more of a spiritual illness caused by demons rather than a physical illness. Ancient Greeks and Romans put taught about the causes of melancholia. For example in the 5th
Depression is often described in superficial terms based on the manifestation of symptoms but falling short of capturing the complexity existing within the intrinsic etiology of the disease. It is one of two classifications of mood disorders with the other being Bipolar Disorder which is also known as manic-depressive illness. Major depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States. The lifetime prevalence rate of depression is 16.2% of the population with a two-fold greater risk in women than men after adolescence (McCance, 2010). Signs and symptoms characteristic of Major Depression include sadness, irritability, significant weight gain or loss, insomnia, guilt, and suicide ideation. It is distinguishable from Bipolar Disorder in that it lacks symptoms of mania. Risk factors associated with depression are stress, comorbidities, life changes, and substance and/or alcohol abuse. It is important to understand the relative risk associated with these risk factors when determining treatment. For example, the relative risk between the substance abuse, depression, and suicide is evident in a recent analysis conducted by The National Survey on Drug Use and Health focusing on the suicidal thoughts and behavior among adults with substance dependence or abuse and adults with major depressive episode. Results indicated that adults 18 or older who had past year substance
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) has a high prevalence rate; it affects more than 16.1 million American adults of the US population aged 18 years or older (Anxiety and Depression Association of America [ADAA], 2017). MDD is more common in women than in men and can develop at any age (Kessler, Berglund, & Demler, 2003). Major depressive disorder is defined as a mental disorder that is characterized by a general low mood accompanied by low self-esteem and loss of pleasure in normal daily activities (World Health Organization [WHO], 2010). The diagnosis of MDD needs a distinct
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common mental health diagnosis that affects roughly 3 million people in the United States alone (National Institute). It is an illness that does not discriminate against socioeconomic class, race, gender, etc. and has a biological and environmental affect. The biological component of depression involves familial history and how genetics plays an important role in depression and can increase one’s risk of developing some form of depression during their lifetime. The environmental factors of depression are situational such as financial troubles, relationship problems, loss of a
Nobody truly knows what is the main cause of depression, but there are several factors that play a huge roles in increasing the risk of developing depression. To start with, different types of abuse can impact Clinical Depression. For instance, past sexual, emotional, or physical abuse can increase one’s vulnerability to Clinical Depression later in life. Furthermore, substance abuse of different drugs and alcohol can trigger depression in some people. According to WebMD, “30% of people with substance abuse problems also have Clinical Depression.” ("What Is Depression?"). In addition to various types of abuse, one’s social life could impact their perspective in which they see themselves. This can be a result of isolation from mental illnesses
More than three hundred and fifty million people globally are affected by depression, and it is of utmost importance to discover why they are depressed and how they can be assisted (Pietrangelo, 2015). Marion Leboyer has this to say about depression, “Major depression is associated with substantial social and even physical dysfunction, significantly more than some chronic medical conditions, eg, diabetes.” Bipolar disorder, dysthymia, and major depressive disorder are some forms of the incredibly debilitating disorder that leaves many individuals with a perpetual sense of gloominess (iFred, 2017). Depression can be seasonal, grief-induced, or caused by imbalances of chemicals in the brain
Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), commonly called depression, is almost twice as prevalent in women than it is in men (Cyranowski, Frank, Young, & Shear, 2000). Previously it was thought that this statistic was so because women were more likely to seek help than men were for this disease. However, this has been widely discounted by the gender difference seen across the world (Cyranowski, Frank, Young, & Shear, 2000). With the rising cases of MDD, and the higher likelihood of being diagnosed at younger ages, depression is becoming more accepted and less stigmatized in society. Causes of the disorder are heavily intertwined between social-causation, neurological/genetic disposition and psychological-causation. Treatment ranges from group and single therapy to medication with all sorts of other types in-between. This paper aims to look at the causes and outcomes of MDD in women and the potential treatments.
“Major Depressive Disorder is a leading cuase of disability in the United States today” (Halter Pg. 251). It is hard to truly get a good grasp on depression due to the fact of the wide range of how symptoms manifest, along with the differences in how well people respond to treatment.
In Western society, depression is defined as a downcast mood or a loss of pleasure in previously interesting activities. In Japan, however, depression is understood as a mental disorder and often fatal state of sorrow. People in China describe depression as physical pain, while American Indians describe it as an overwhelming loneliness. Every culture defines depression distinctly based on their different societal issues, specific health care systems, and history. Depression is perceived distinctly among different cultures based on the societal issues each culture faces, the structure of specific health care systems, and the succumbing to cultural imperialism.
Major depression, also known as unipolar depression, is one of the most common mental illnesses. Over nine million adults each year suffer from depression. Many people don’t understand what depression really is, including myself until I did a lot of research over this subject. Major depression is more than a temporary state of being sad. It is a persistent state that can significantly impair an individual’s thoughts, behavior, daily activities, and physical health. According to The Stanford School of Medicine, they said that “major depressive disorder impacts all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups and can occur at any age.” (Depression Research Clinic) Depression is a common, but serious illness that can occur in people of all ages; teenagers, adults, and older adults. Depression is a condition that reportedly affects one in every ten Americans at some point in their lives. The incidence of depression is actually higher in some states than others. Certain ethnicities also report higher depression rates than others. According to Healthline, “the number of patients diagnosed with depression increases by approximately 20% each year.” (Healthline) In the United States, Oklahoma, Arizona, Tennessee, West Virginia, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama have the highest reported rates of depression. These states also show high rates of other negative health outcomes such as obesity, heart disease,
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
Depression is the most common of all psychological disorders, affecting 100 million people worldwide. The depression ranges from mild feelings of uneasiness, sadness, and apathy to intense suicidal despair. (Kasschau) If left untreated, it could lead the