Mood Disorders Related to Depression - Essay Example

Mood Disorders Related to Depression According to DS- IV and DSM-IV-TR, for an individual to be diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode, they must have experienced at least one Major Depressive Episode, but no Manic, Hypomanic, or Mixed Episode (Nemade, Reiss & Dombeck 2007). Major depression is a disabling state which negatively affects a person's family, work or school life, sleeping and eating habits, and general health. Mr. Harrison is facing Major Depressive Disorder, Single Episode which is characterized by low mood, along with low self-esteem and complete loss of interest and pleasure in activities that were previously enjoyable. This is clearly illustrated from the case, in which Mr. Harrison, who had always had a passion for cars and car races, has lost interest in them completely. Earlier he was an efficient employee but now he is also facing problems at work by falling behind deadlines and is unable to control his subordinates. Also, the depressive episode is affecting Harrison’s family life as well as he and his wife have not had sex and he has barely talked to his children over these past few months. Environmental causes of depression are concerned with factors that are outside of an individual. They are not directly related to brain function, genetic, medical illnesses, or anything else that may take place within a person. Instead, environmental events are those things that happen in the course of everyday lives. These may comprise of situations such as extended stress at home or work, coping with the loss of a loved one, or traumatic events. There is a composite relationship among stressful events, the mind and body's reaction to stress, and the start of clinical depression. It is obvious that some individuals develop depression after a stressful event in their lives. Events like death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or the end of a relationship are often adverse and distressing and result in great stress. A lot of times, individuals who become depressed suggest that a single traumatic event took place right before becoming depressed. Painful occurrences such as the loss of a loved one, divorce, a medical illness, or losing everything in a natural disaster may have such a great effect as to trigger clinical depression. Happenings like these take away a sense of directness and result in immense emotional disturbance. Individuals who become clinically depressed have usually experienced more strict difficulties in childhood compared to those who do not become depressed. These difficulties may consist of sexual or physical abuse, an unstable childhood, separation from a parent, or mental illness in a parent. Some researchers think that a difficult childhood may set off an early-onset of depression. Poverty and social isolation are linked with increased risk of psychiatric problems frequently. Child abuse (physical, emotional, sexual or gender) is also connected with increased risk of developing depressive disorders later in life. Turbulence in family functioning, such as parental depression, divorce, death of a parent, or other difficulties in parenting is additional risk factors. In adulthood, traumatic life occurrences are strongly related with the onset of major depressive episodes. In this sense, life events associated to social denial seems to be mainly related to depression. Unfavorable conditions at work, especially demanding jobs with small scope for decision-making, are related with depression, although diversity and perplexing factors make it hard to verify that the relationship is contributory. Synthetic chemicals, in food additives and preservatives, pesticides, hormones and drugs, and industrial byproducts, are flooding the human bodies at an extraordinary rate. Other non-chemical basis of environmental stresses consists of noise pollution, electrical pollution natural disasters, and other catastrophic environmental events. There is no specific cause of depression; therefore, it cannot be clearly decided which one is the most important one. It is a combination of brain chemistry, family history, and psychosocial environment. Among the psychosocial environmental factors, stress can play a major part in the triggering of Major Depressive Disorder. The individual may face numerous constant difficulties which may come in the form of having to control various roles at home and work, making important changes in the lifestyle, being in an abusive environment, etc. They may also arrive with significant and usual changes in life such as adolescence and early adulthood when various people part from their families. Middle age and retirement may also require adjustment to changes and some people struggle with these changes as well. If an individual is under constant stress, a particular complicated event may be more likely to stimulate a depressive episode. Even the biological and genetic factors play a major role in setting off Major Depressive Disorder and are accepted cause by scientists and experts. The body's emotions are ruled by three neurotransmitters; serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. If there is any change in the level of neurotransmitters, then it becomes grounds of depression. Irregularities in the hormonal level can also result in Major Depressive Disorder (Anonymous, 2009). Many people are predisposed to depression because of their biological composition. Such people are more in danger of suffering depression than others. Environmental factors, when united with a biochemical or genetic predisposition and stresses in life might result in the disorder itself. Even environmental toxins can have an effect on mental condition and could be a fundamental cause to depressive symptoms. Psychosocial interventions educate patients and their families to recognize themselves and the nature of depression, also to efficiently handle relationships and stresses of life related to depression. Psychosocial interventions further aid the patient to deal with with depressive symptoms, develop social and self-management capabilities, and enhance self-confidence. Psychosocial treatments consist of, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy for adolescents (IPT-A), family therapy, dynamic therapy, group therapy, and supportive therapy.  Psychotherapy is a significant depression treatment in which the depression is treated by talking about an individual’s situation and related issues. Cognitive behavioral therapy is one of the most frequently utilized talk therapies for depression. In this, the therapist helps in identifying pessimistic, negative beliefs and behaviors and changes them with healthy, positive ones. The cognitive behavioral theory tries to correct the negative thoughts or dysfunctional attitudes in order to conquer the patient's pessimism and hopelessness. Interpersonal therapy and psychodynamic psychotherapy are other types of therapy generally used to treat depression. Family therapy looks at the role of the depressed member in the general psychological welfare of the entire family; it also looks at the role of the whole family in the protection of the depression. Also, one therapy alone cannot prove effective in treatment; a number of therapies can be combined and used on the clients. Like most therapists prefer, a combination of medication and psychotherapy is used. Also numerous other therapies can be combined together to make the therapies more effective (Tesar, 2008). To devise a plan for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder, the therapist first has to determine the length and severity of the client's depression. A full mental health inventory and history should be obtained before discussing treatment options and eliminate possibilities of differential diagnosis. Firstly, the client’s mood can be checked by giving stabilizing drug or, if they are opposed to medical intervention, use interpersonal or mindfulness therapeutic techniques to help promote activity. These methods can be paired with frequent clinical visits and assessments of mood. Other therapies can be combined together life family therapy and support system to make the treatment more effective. Lastly, the therapist should keep a close eye on the therapy and if any changes are required, take steps accordingly. REFERENCE Anonymous (2009). Depression related mood disorders. Retrieved November 2, 2009, from http://www.depression.com/types_of_depression.html Nemade, R.; Reiss, N. S. & Dombeck, M. (2007). Formal DSM diagnoses for other depressive mood disorders. Reterived November 2, 2009, from http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_ doc.php?type=doc&id=12979&cn=5 Tesar, G. E. (2008). Recognition and treatment of depression. Retrieved November 2, 2009, from http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement psychiatry-psychology/recognition-treatment-of-depression/ Read More