Who Is It For
- Schizophrenia spectrum disorders, such as schizotypal personality disorder, delusional disorder and schizoaffective disorder
- Some personality disorders, including schizoid personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, and some forms of borderline personality disorder
- Depressive disorders, such as major depressive disorder with psychotic features
- Obsessive-compulsive disorders, such as Tourette syndrome
- Bipolar disorders
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How Is Depression Treated
Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80% and 90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment. Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.
Before a diagnosis or treatment, a health professional should conduct a thorough diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and a physical examination. In some cases, a blood test might be done to make sure the depression is not due to a medical condition like a thyroid problem or a vitamin deficiency . The evaluation will identify specific symptoms and explore medical and family histories as well as cultural and environmental factors with the goal of arriving at a diagnosis and planning a course of action.
Helping A Suicidal Friend Or Relative
If you see any of the above warning signs:
- get professional help for the person
- let them know they’re not alone and that you care about them
- offer your support in finding other solutions to their problems
If you feel there is an immediate danger, stay with the person or have someone else stay with them, and remove all available means of committing suicide, such as medication.
Over-the-counter drugs such as painkillers can be just as dangerous as prescription medication.
Also, remove sharp objects and poisonous household chemicals such as bleach.
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Other Medications And Supplements
The combined use of antidepressants plus benzodiazepines demonstrates improved effectiveness when compared to antidepressants alone, but these effects may not endure. The addition of a benzodiazepine is balanced against possible harms and other alternative treatment strategies when antidepressant mono-therapy is considered inadequate.
Ketamine may have a rapid antidepressant effect lasting less than two weeks there is limited evidence of any effect after that, common acute side effects, and longer-term studies of safety and adverse effects are needed. A nasal spray form of esketamine was approved by the FDA in March 2019 for use in treatment-resistant depression when combined with an oral antidepressant risk of substance use disorder and concerns about its safety, serious adverse effects, tolerability, effect on suicidality, lack of information about dosage, whether the studies on it adequately represent broad populations, and escalating use of the product have been raised by an international panel of experts.
Life Events And Depression
Research suggests that continuing difficulties, such as long-term unemployment, living in an abusive or uncaring relationship, long-term isolation or loneliness or prolonged exposure to stress at work can increase the risk of depression.
Significant adverse life events, such as losing a job, going through a separation or divorce, or being diagnosed with a serious illness, may also trigger depression, particularly among people who are already at risk because of genetic, developmental or other personal factors.
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When Should You Seek Help
Talk to your doctor if you experience sadness for longer than two weeks. And call emergency services to receive immediate medical help if youre having suicidal thoughts.
Note if your feelings interfere with your ability to function, take part in life, or experience enjoyment. Speaking to a professional, like a therapist, clergy member, or other trusted person, can be a powerful first step toward recovery.
Other Types Of Depression
There are different types of depression, and some conditions where depression may be one of the symptoms. These include:
- postnatal depression sometimes new mothers, fathers or partners develop depression after they have a baby this is known as postnatal depression and it’s treated in a similar way to other types of depression, with talking therapies and antidepressant medicines
- bipolar disorder also known as “manic depression”, in bipolar disorder there are spells of both depression and excessively high mood the depression symptoms are similar to clinical depression, but the bouts of mania can include harmful behaviour, such as gambling, going on spending sprees and having unsafe sex
- seasonal affective disorder also known as “winter depression”, SAD is a type of depression with a seasonal pattern usually related to winter
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What If My Symptoms Dont Improve
If youre not responding to treatment, you may live with treatment resistant depression. This is when your symptoms have not improved after at least 2 standard treatments. This can also be known as treatment-refractory depression.
There is currently no official criteria used to diagnose treatment resistant depression.
What treatment is available for treatment-resistant depression?There are treatment options for treatment resistant depression. Even if antidepressants have not worked already for you, your doctor may suggest a different antidepressant from a different class.
The new antidepressant you are offered will depend on the first antidepressant you were given.
Sometimes your doctor can prescribe a second type of medication to go with your antidepressant. This can sometimes help the antidepressant work better than it does by itself.
Where antidepressants have not worked, your doctor may suggest talking therapies, ECT or brain stimulation treatments. See the previous section for more information on these.
What is an implanted vagus nerve stimulator, and how is it used in treatment resistant depression?If you live with treatment resistant depression, and youve not responded to other treatments, you may be able ask for an implanted vagus nerve stimulator.
Please speak to your doctor if youre interested in this treatment and for more information. You may be able to get this treatment funded through an Individual Funding Request.
- NHS – Your Rights by clicking here.
Activity: Working Through Itthinking About Your Diagnosis
Writing your thoughts, concerns, questions and goals down can be a very helpful tool to help you make sense of your diagnosis and next steps. Working it out by writing can also help you describe what you’re going through to loved ones or health professionals. Also, if you need to access different services and supports, various professionals may start to ask you about your diagnosis including who provided the diagnosis and when it happened. Writing things down can help you remember what youve been told. If you add your thoughts and concerns too, writing can help you see your own progress over time in your recovery journey.
Step 1
Before you can be expected to deal with your diagnosis, you need to be able to put your diagnosis into words. Answer the following questions in your journal:
What diagnosis were you given?
Who provided you with the diagnosis?
When was it given to you ?
Did anyone else confirm this diagnosis? When?
What investigations were done to arrive at the diagnosis?
In lay words, what does this diagnosis mean? What does it involve?
What questions did you ask after you were given the confirmed diagnosis? If you can remember, what answers were you given for your questions?
How much did you already know about depression? Little? Some? A lot?
What attitudes and assumptions did you have about people with depression before this?
How much do you accept this diagnosis? Fully, Unsure, Dont accept it?
How much does it make sense with what you were experiencing?
Step 2
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Which Is The Best Definition Of The Word Depression
Depression: definition Depression is a common mental disorder, characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness and poor concentration.
What does it mean to have major depressive disorder?
Overview Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects how you feel, think and behave and can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
What are some of the symptoms of depression?
Depression is a common mental disorder, characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness and poor concentration. It can be long lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing a persons ability to function at work or school, or cope with daily life.
What To Know When You’re Newly Diagnosed With Depression
Evan Starkman Jennifer Casarella, MD
Getting diagnosed with depression brings up different emotions for different people. After your doctor or mental health provider gives you the news, itâs a good idea to reach out for support from family, friends, or others in your community. They may be able to help you process what youâre feeling.
âFor some people thereâs relief. Hereâs an answer that explains whatâs going on with you. Itâs a medical condition and itâs highly treatable,â says Ashley J. Smith, PhD, a licensed clinical psychologist in Kansas City, MO, and co-founder of Peak Mind: The Center for Psychological Strength.
Other people struggle with the diagnosis, she says. You might think: ââI have depression. What does that mean about me? Am I flawed or broken?ââ
Learning you have a mood disorder can be tough to hear. You could even feel ashamed if your family or community dismisses mental health conditions, says Jameca Cooper, PhD, a counseling psychologist in St. Louis and president and clinical director of Emergence Psychological Services.
âA lot of my patients talk about how their families donât really believe in mental health issues like depression or anxiety,â Cooper says. âSometimes they refer to baby boomer parents that say, âJust suck it up. Get over it. Just get enough rest. Just work harder.â … A lot of peopleâs families see mental health as a weakness.â
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What Do The Results Mean
If you are diagnosed with depression, its important to get treatment as soon as possible. The sooner you get treatment, the better chance you have of recovery. Treatment for depression may take a long time, but most people who get treated eventually feel better.
If your primary care provider diagnosed you, he or she may refer you to a mental health provider. If a mental health provider diagnosed you, he or she will recommend a treatment plan based on the type of depression you have and how serious it is.
From The American Heritage Dictionary Of The English Language 5th Edition
- noun The act of depressing.
- noun The condition of being depressed.
- noun An area that is sunk below its surroundings a hollow.
- noun The condition of feeling sad or despondent.
- noun A mood disorder characterized usually by anhedonia, extreme sadness, poor concentration, sleep problems, loss of appetite, and feelings of guilt, helplessness, and hopelessness.
- noun A lowering or reduction, as.
- noun A reduction in physiological vigor or activity.
- noun A lowering in amount, degree, or position.
- noun A period of drastic economic decline, characterized by decreasing aggregate output, falling prices, and rising unemployment.
- noun A period of widespread poverty and high unemployment.
- nounMeteorology A region of low barometric pressure.
- noun The angular distance below the horizontal plane through the point of observation.
- nounAstronomy The angular distance of a celestial body below the horizon.
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When Should I Seek Help
If your symptoms of depression are causing problems with relationships, work, or your family — and there isn’t a clear solution — you should see a professional.
Talking with a mental health counselor or doctor can help prevent things from getting worse, especially if your symptoms stay for any length of time.
If you or someone you know is having suicidal thoughts or feelings, get help right away.
It’s important to understand that feeling depressed doesn’t mean you have depression. That condition involves not only changes in mood, but also changes in sleep, energy, appetite, concentration, and motivation.
If you have physical symptoms like these and find yourself feeling depressed much of the time for days or weeks, see your doctor.
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Types Of Depressive Disorder
There are several types of depression, and while they are all characterised by intense low mood, there are also important differences.
Major depression is also known as major depressive disorder. The most recognised symptom is low mood and loss of interest in activities that were once considered pleasurable. These symptoms can be mild, moderate or severe, but will probably interfere with daily life and relationships. The low mood will persist for at least 2 weeks, and will be experienced on most days. Sub-types of major depression include:
- melancholic depression, a severe form of depression that includes physical as well as emotional symptoms
- psychotic depression, which includes hallucinations delusions or paranoia .
Bipolar disorder is characterised by extreme mood changes that disrupt daily life. Symptoms of manic episodes include showing extremely high energy in speech and activity, agitation and a reduced need for sleep.
Symptoms of depressive episodes are similar to those of major depression. People who have bipolar disorder can also experience episodes of psychosis .
Cyclothymic disorder is sometimes described as a milder form of bipolar disorder. The person experiences changing moods for at least 2 years. They have periods of hypomania and episodes of depressive symptoms. They may also have very short periods of even moods, with fewer than 2 months in between. Symptoms tend to be less severe and are shorter lasting than in bipolar disorder or major depression.
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What Does It Mean When Someone Is Venting
When you vent, you let something out, whether its hot air or your feelings. If you vent your feelings, you let out a strong and sometimes angry emotion and just say what you think. You might vent your rage when your brother once again gets out of doing his chores. You also might vent something to air it out.
Depression Diagnosis And How Is Depression Diagnosed
Diagnosis of depression, and other mental illnesses, is different than for many other medical conditions. The depression diagnosis relies on information supplied by the patient both passively and through interviews. While this may seem haphazard, a depression diagnosis is highly standardized. Depression diagnostic criteria are clearly laid out, as is the examination used to evaluate those criteria.
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Life Expectancy And The Risk Of Suicide
Depressed individuals have a shorter life expectancy than those without depression, in part because people who are depressed are at risk of dying of suicide. Up to 60% of people who die of suicide have a mood disorder such as major depression, and the risk is especially high if a person has a marked sense of hopelessness or has both depression and borderline personality disorder. About 2â8% of adults with major depression die by suicide, and about 50% of people who die by suicide had depression or another mood disorder. The lifetime risk of suicide associated with a diagnosis of major depression in the US is estimated at 3.4%, which averages two highly disparate figures of almost 7% for men and 1% for women . The estimate is substantially lower than a previously accepted figure of 15%, which had been derived from older studies of people who were hospitalized.
Depressed people have a higher rate of dying from other causes. There is a 1.5- to 2-fold increased risk of cardiovascular disease, independent of other known risk factors, and is itself linked directly or indirectly to risk factors such as smoking and obesity. People with major depression are less likely to follow medical recommendations for treating and preventing cardiovascular disorders, further increasing their risk of medical complications.Cardiologists may not recognize underlying depression that complicates a cardiovascular problem under their care.
Take Care Of Yourself
You can also improve symptoms of depression by taking care of yourself. This includes getting plenty of sleep, eating a healthy diet, avoiding negative people, and participating in enjoyable activities.
Sometimes depression doesnt respond to medication. Your healthcare professional may recommend other treatment options if your symptoms dont improve.
These options include electroconvulsive therapy or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to treat depression and improve your mood.
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How Is Depression Diagnosed
As and when you reach out to a professional, theyll be able to talk to you about how you feel, and explore whether youve had any of the symptoms of depression such as:
- Persistent feelings of sadness
- Becoming uninterested in hobbies or activities that you used to enjoy
If youve had either of these symptoms most days, for most of the time, for at least two weeks, this could mean that you have depression. Other symptoms include:
- Feeling hopeless and as though you cant look forward to the future
- Physical problems like disturbed appetite, a change in your sleeping patterns and reduced sex drive
- Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
Theyll also explore whether youve been struggling with any unexplained physical problems such as back pain, headaches and digestive problems, as these can also be signs of depression.
If you go to see your GP, theyll be able to review your symptoms, including when they started and how long youve had them, and if necessary, conduct a physical health examination to rule out any other causes for your symptoms.
If you reach out for treatment with a mental health provider such as Priory, our psychiatrists will be able to conduct an in-depth screening for depression and well take a thorough mental health history. Well also be able to diagnose the type of depressionyou may be struggling with. Based on this, well be able to develop a treatment plan for you.