Pychopharmacology Teatment of Depression

"A New Focus on Depression." Well a New Focus on Depression Comments. The New York Times, 23 Dec. 2013. Web. 10 Nov. 2015.

Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders, with a 12-month prevalence of 6.7% of adults in the United States (NIMH). There is no definite etiology of depression, but several risk factors have been identified. Functional and structural changes in the brain have also been explored. The most common treatment for depression is the use of drugs that act on monoamine transmitters, including norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin. Decreases in these transmitters, especially serotonin, were hypothesized to play an important role in the cause of depression (Breedlove & Watson, 2013). The serotonin hypothesis led to the development of selective-serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which increase the amount of serotonin in the brain. Further research suggests that the serotonin hypothesis is not entirely accurate and the neurobiology of depression is much more complex. The “chemical imbalance” explanation of depression may not reflect the full range of causes and may be given greater credibility by patients and doctors than is supported by evidence based research.

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.

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.

Psychotic depression occurs when a depressive illness also includes hallucinations, delusions or the patient feeling removed from reality. Psychotic depression affects approximately one in four people admitted to the hospital for depression.

While medication may be taken worldwide and is much more commonly used for depression, it isn’t always the best solution. Causing potential problems such as nausea, headaches, insomnia and even increased suicide rate. In comparison, therapy allows connection, interaction, someone to trust, and overall monitoring of the patient's progress. Which option is more beneficial to the patients? Medication or therapy? The research done will help determine that option. This option will be very beneficial to a growing community around the world. This research project aims to explore the risk of overdosing when treating depression with antidepressants. Taking medication while being diagnosed with depression although may be helpful, it can be dangerous and life threatening.

The research critically analyses the desired effects of the depression and the antidepressants available for the depressions. Depression symptoms are commonly seen among people of various ages. There are some of the antidepressants that are initially recommended for overcoming the issues of depression. Some of the well-known methods have been used by many of the known researchers regarding the topic of depression. Proper evaluation of the research methodology about depressions will help in the better understanding of the mental state of the people suffering from the diseases of depression. The evaluation of the two of the research papers mentioned above highlights the fact that research between a certain numbers of the people will help to evaluate

This article will be used in my paper as a claim regarding the usage of antidepressant treatment. Because this article states that the usage of antidepressant treatments should be carefully assessed by the doctor that is prescribing the medication to the patient, I will use it towards the middle of my paper. I plan on using this to explain that although there is no concrete evidence that antidepressant treatment is connected

The role of serotonin on the mood of depressed patients is not fully understood. Studies show that a shortage of serotonin affects an area of brain that predominates emotions: the amygdala. (2) This almond-shaped brain region connects emotions to our sensory perceptions and appears particularly important in the formation of negative emotions. A lack of serotonin makes the amygdala more susceptible to sensory stimuli. In an experiment where they temporarily lowered serotonin levels in the brain in healthy subjects, they recorded a stronger reaction of the amygdala. (3) Foreign studies confirm this role of amygdala during depression.

The cause of Clinical depression has long been a mystery to physicians and researchers. Many different theories have been proposed, but no conclusive evidence has been put forth. However, most of what we know about depression stems from the results of certain drugs which have been successful in treating the clinically depressed. These anti--depressants have led to the assumption that depression is most likely due to a chemical imbalance (of neurotransmitters) which somehow leads to the symptoms of depression. To try and write a paper on all the theories of depression would be endless, as would be a study on all the different types of

Much of what is recognized about the biological grounds of psychiatric disorders derives from pharmacological studies; pharmacology deals with all characteristics of the interaction of chemicals with biological systems, and psychopharmacology denotes to the interactions of drugs that are used predominantly because of their effects on the central nervous system (Kelsey et al., 2006). Pharmacologists characteristically distribute their science into two distinct portions; this would comprise of pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. When defined in the humblest arrangement, pharmacokinetics endeavors to pronounce what the body does to the drug, and pharmacodynamics terms what the drug does to the body (Kelsey et al., 2006). In educations of mental illnesses, such as unipolar and bipolar mood disorders, pharmacodynamics discloses the molecular substrates of drugs that effect mental states, and henceforth molecular and cellular suppliers to these specific mental conditions.

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs) are currently one of the most controversial groups of medicines, with fluoxetine, more commonly known by its brand name Prozac, at the head of the controversy. Opponents of the use of SSRI medications as a successful and safe method for treating depression and related disorders assert that the actions of the drug are an unnatural and a dangerous form of tampering with our neurochemistry. Not only are these medications incredibly safe in almost all cases, they are actually an unnatural method of modifying an already disordered, natural sequence of chemicals in the brain, and therefore are not a form of tampering, but are a method for fixing

(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)

In the study, 180 patients meeting the criterias for severe and major depression were assigned to either one of the treatment methods. Of these, 104 met the response criteria and were included in a 12 month continuation phase and constitute the main focus of the study. Patients who had responded to the therapy were withdrawn and followed up during a 12-month period. Those who had responded to the medication treatment (Paroxetine) were either assigned to a placebo group or a continuation meducation group, with both being followed up for 12 months. The Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS) was used during the entire study, and during the continuation phase relapse was defined as a return of symptoms lasting for at least 2 weeks.

Depression have become a major problem in our society today. People who haven’t experience depression will not understand how it feel and what it can do to a person. Many people also doesn’t understand what depression is, or how it can related to suicidal ideation. In fact, studies have documented that the majority of young suicide victims had depression at the time of death and most suicide survivors were diagnosed with symptoms of clinical depression at the time of their attempt (Mojs, Biederman, Głowacka, Strzelecki, Ziemska, Samborski 2015). It can affect anyone, from young adolescents to college students to the elderly people. There are many reasons that can make someone have major depression. Such as financial problems, family problems, social problems, school, work, etc. These stressors in our daily life can cause anxiety which can increase our stress level significantly, which then can lead to depression. A research said that anxiety disorder have a high comorbidity with depression and that anxiety occur prior to the onset of depressive disorders in many individuals (Batterham, Christensen, Calear 2013). People who experience depression must find way to cope with depression and know how to get help in order to prevent suicidal ideation. The people surroundings, friends and family, must also find ways to recognize the symptoms of depression, and show understandings in order to help those suffering. This research project will help people understand more about