Introduction Major depressive disorder (MDD) is currently labeled one of the world’s greatest health problems, with an estimated prevalence of 4.7% and the second highest cause of years lived with a disability in 2010. The economic impact on patients with MDD is extensive particularly in patients that do not respond to treatment. Severe MDD can lead to loss of productivity and increase mortality. There remain several antidepressant treatments (ADTs) available to patients with MDD, but there is a significant minority that do not respond to first-line treatments. Secondary treatment options, including changing the current ADT or adding another ADT to the treatment regimen, such as a second generation antipsychotic. Currently, aripiprazole and quetiapine are the approved therapies in the United States for unresponsive MDD patients, including the adjunctive usage of fluoxetine and olanzapine. Their efficacy has been proven countless times in randomized controlled trials of these agents, but their tolerability profiles has limited their clinical usage. Side effects fluctuate between medications, but most regularly comprise of akathisia for aripiprazole, increased appetite and weight gain for olanzapine-fluoxetine combination, and excessive sedation for quetiapine. Weight gain can be a particularly menacing side effect as it increases a patient’s overall risk of metabolic abnormalities; extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) which is equally linked with eventual risk of tardive
Depression is a devastating disorder, though one may find it hard to understand or take seriously. You can’t see it or touch it, but when it settles over you or your loved one, it can affect nearly every aspect of daily life. Depression can disable everything from waking up in the morning to going to work, even sleeping at night. Sufferers experience feelings of intense despair and hopelessness. Activities they used to find joy in no longer interest them and in some cases may lead to attempted suicide. Infact, Depression is the leading cause of medical disability worldwide and accounts for over 210 billion dollars each year in medical expenses and missed days of work. Antidepressants are prescribed at an all-time high and fail to consistently do better than placebo pills (Wittenborn, 551). I myself have experienced this first hand, shelling out money I didn’t have for antidepressants that had little to effect or just made my symptoms worse.
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
One of the researched anomalies of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the decreased ability to keep cognitive control when faced with a negative distractor. This phenomenon has been attributed to decreased activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), a region of the brain associated with cognitive control, and increased activity in the brain’s fear center, the amygdala.
According to the The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (5th ed.; DSM–5; American Psychiatric Association [APA], 2013); Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a medical illness that affects how you feel, think and behave producing persistent feelings of sadness and loss of interest in formerly enjoyed activities. Depression can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems. It is a chronic illness that is usually characterized by episodes of remission and episodes of relapses. (APA, 2013) Antidepressant medications are effective in treating depression, but not all people with MDD, can attain remission for long periods of time and fewer will completely recover with antidepressants alone. According to Hollon et al. (2014)
In an attempt to better understand depression in today’s youth, I have chosen to explore the depths of Major Depressive Disorder and how it affects the young people in our society. Depression amongst school age children and adolescents are the primary focus. The prevalence, adversities, and treatment of the depression are discussed as well. After exploring these few facets of the disorder, I will talk briefly about the Ecological Model developed by Urie Bronfenbrenner and Morris in 1998 that is used by counselors to help evaluate and assess the children who are referred by teachers or medical
Major Depressive Disorder : Major depressive disorder (MDD)is a serious clinical mood disorder that severely impacts a person's everyday life and wellbeing. Catatonic Depression : Catatonia is a state where a person appears unresponsive and moves little, if at all. It is a type of depression that often confuses doctors. Seasonal Affective Disorder : Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is common during winter months where exposure to sunlight is minimal. Dysthymia (Chronic Depression) : An estimated 35 million people in the U.S. have suffered from dysthymia at some point in their lives. Atypical Depression : Atypical depression can be difficult to treat as its criteria isn't as easily defined as other types
“It’s more than just a bout of the blues, depression isn’t a weakness and you can’t simply ‘snap out of it’” (Mayo Clinic Staff 1). One of the most common mental disorders in the United States is Major Depression. It typically ends up with significant impairments that can interfere with one’s daily activities (“Major Depression” 1). Depression is a mental disorder that drastically can change the affected person’s outlook on life and how they handle the world around them. Depression rates have consistently increased worldwide, but, luckily, there are methods to help with the symptoms. This disorder has been made more well known over the years, leading to an increase in preventative measures.The following paper will discuss the rising rates,
Regarding the source and development of MDD, there are a variety of theories. Biological theories appear to be the best supported by research. Major depressive disorder has a strong possibility having a polygenetic predisposition, as well as having an origin on the X chromosome. Those who have a family member diagnosed with depression have a 30% chance of developing the disorder and the concordance rate among monozygotic twins is as high as 46% (Comer, 2015). This disorder could be the result of decreased activity in the reward system and decreased sensitivity to norepinephrine and serotonin. Other possibilities include low thyroxin, high cortisol, and a damaged immune system. These can cause aggravated and depressed moods. In a different
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_______
According to the DSM-5, to meet criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD), it is required that single or recurrent major depressive episodes (MDE) are present without mania and hypomania. To diagnose a patient for MDE, there must be presence of five symptoms, such as persistent low mood, insomnia or hypersomnia, anhedonia, more than 5% increment or decrement in total body weight over a month, inconclusiveness, suicidal thoughts, hypo or hyper motor activity, for at least 2 weeks for most part of the day. Furthermore, one of these five symptoms must be depressed mood or anhedonia. In DSM-5, the MDD diagnosis can be divided into 14 subcategories based on the severe depression specifiers, such as depression with psychotic features, with melancholic features, and with catatonic features (Uher, Payne, Pavlova, & Perlis, 2014). Major depression can persist for months or even years. Persistent depression can lead to other physical and mental health problems, such as substance abuse, suicidal ideations and catatonic behaviours. A patient with major depression can be treated using different treatment methods, such as pharmacological, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, interpersonal therapy and Electroconvulsive therapy. Each treatment benefits a patient struggling with depression in a different way depending on a patient’s compliance and social support. In this paper, I am going to present ECT as an effective method to decrease the symptoms related to depression,
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
Major depression disorder (MDD) is a serious mental disorder that has an intense impact on the individuals social and economic mobile functioning, directly related to increased disability, absenteeism from employment, and social exclusion (Haddad & Gunn, 2011). Research suggests that mothers who are depressed have the potential to genetically predispose their children to social, cognitive impaired development; it appears as though offspring may experience heightened susceptibility to experience occurrences of depression and other mental health problems later in development (Haddad & Gunn, 2011). An individual that has MDD may experience feelings of worthlessness, and inappropriate guilt (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Feelings of hopelessness initiate an distorted view of self, this can be lethal, by way of suicidal ideations or substance misuse. Relevantly, approximately 60 percent of individuals that have committed suicide have had depression, and individuals who are younger in age that commit suicide are more likely to have alcohol use disorder (AUD) or another substance use disorder (SUD) in addition to MDD (Haddad & Gunn, 2011).
Major Depressive Disorder and Major Depressive Episodes affect many across the country in various forms and degrees. Though many are affected by MDD/MDE most do not receive the help they need. A group that may not always be acknowledged in suffering from major depressive disorder/major depressive episodes are adolescents. Consequently, more often than not, adolescents do not receive a diagnosis or support with their struggles. Mental illness symptoms in adolescents may be dismissed for various of reasons, but can have a serious impact on various aspects of their lives.The struggles could be mitigated and managed by a public health approach. Public health approach may help to first collect the information on the extent of the issue. The
Major Depressive Disorder or MDD is a very common clinical condition that affects millions of people every year. According to the Agency for Health Care Policy & Research, “ depression is under diagnosed & untreated by most medical doctors, despite the fact that it can almost always be treated successfully.
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