Depression - Research Paper Example

? Depression Depression Depression is a very common psychological disorder and around 15 million Americans suffer from the complications caused by depression. Depression is basically an illness that not only affects the mind, but also the body and the normal thought process of the affected individual. A person with depression has to face difficulties in his/her daily activities and cannot perform daily functions in a normal and regular manner. Depression does not only affect a single individual, but also his/her family and friends (Psychology Today 2012). Depression is led to by numerous causes and associated with different risk factors, but even in its most severe form, it can be treated through medical and psychological therapeutic methods. Depression is also associated with many chronic diseases and this can lead to high rates of mortality. Depression is caused by many genetic, environmental, biochemical and psychological factors. The magnetic resonance imaging of the brain has shown a different brain structure and functioning of people with depression as compared to those who do not have depression. Brain structures which play vital role in regulating the normal thought process, sleep and appetite maintenance and behavioral responses show abnormal functioning in the brain imaging techniques of the depressed individuals. Past emotional trauma can also lead to depression in an individual. This can be due to the trauma of losing someone who holds an important position in one’s life, conflicts in relationships, any history of physical or sexual abuse or any other stressful incident. These emotional dilemmas and conflicts act as triggering factors for the episodes of depression and can occur frequently in an individual. Depression can present in various forms, for instance, post-partum depression which occurs in mothers after their first baby. Episodes of depression in bipolar disorder, seasonal depression which occurs in cold weathers and dysthymia (prolonged state of mild depression episodes) are some forms of depression (Psychology Today, 2012). The clinical presentation of depression varies from one person to another. Some symptoms can be more severe and frequent in one person, while less intense in another. Depression is characterized by manifestations of persistent sad or anxious mood, pessimistic approach to life, loss of hope in various activities and loss of interest and concentration in one’s favorite pastimes or activities. An individual with depression has low level of energy and easily gets fatigued. Difficulty in sleeping, loss of appetite, poor decision-making capabilities, and loss of sexual activity, suicidal attempts and thoughts of death, irritability and anxiousness are other clinical features associated with depression. If the manifestations are left untreated or unattended, various bodily systems are affected and signs of headache, gastrointestinal signs and chronic pain also become evident (Psychology Today, 2012). The above mentioned interpretation of depression is not just a disease of the brain and mood swings; it also affects various systems and normal functions of the body. The co-morbidity of depression was studied by WHO (World Health Survey) among a population of under 18 year old individuals. Four diseases – arthritis, angina, diabetes and asthma – were assessed in these individuals and association with depression was observed. It was observed that between 9.3% and 23% of the individuals involved in the study had depression along with any four of the physical diseases mentioned above. This highlights the conspicuous co-morbid status of depression and the worsening of the physical illness in the presence of depression (Moussavi et al, 2007). Depression and obesity are also highly inter-linked, but it cannot be established which disease is the causative agent and which occurs as an effect of the other. According to studies carried out amongst obese children, it was found out that prolonged obesity makes a child vulnerable to incidents of depression. This can be explained by the social triggers and the neuro-endocrine factors that lead to the development of depression in obese children. This is explained by the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. These three structures release various hormones, and cortisol is one of these hormones. Cortisol which is released in higher quantities in relation to stress is secreted by the adrenal glands. Cortisol causes the deposition of fat in the abdominal region. Hence, the abnormal functioning of the HPA-axis can contribute to the co-morbidity of depression and obesity. The social and environmental factors like peer pressure, low self-esteem and body weight issues also play an equal role (Lawson, 2003). Depression in acute myocardial infarction patients is three times more common as compared to others. Depression in such individuals affects their clinical course and leads to a poor prognosis in the coronary heart disease (CHD) individuals. Depression reduces the response to medications and the cardiac rehabilitation measures taken for the CHD patients. Treating depression in such patients is very important to achieve maximum therapeutic results (Litchman et al, 2008). Therapeutic strategies for depression in CHD include antidepressant drugs, physical activity, like aerobic exercises, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Sertaline and citalopram are the safest recommendations for depression in CHD patients as they have minimal cardiac effects. Monitoring of side-effects and complete follow-up for two months are also required. Those patients who are unable to take the pharmacological treatment can benefit from the cognitive behavioral therapy and physical exercise regimes. These therapies are also rewarding and require equal support from family members, as well as friends. Regular ECGs, blood tests and follow-ups are necessary for such individuals (Litchman et al., 2008). Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is quite effective in the management of the symptoms of depression. This non-pharmacological treatment strategy enables people to make them feel responsible for their actions and teaches them how to control their condition. This treatment extends for a period from 12 to 15 weeks and is better than drugs as they have a much prolonged course of intake. With the positive approach of the affected individuals towards the environmental and social factors, their brain’s metabolic activity is also improved with time. Exercise is another effective treatment method which improves the tolerance of body against stress and soothes the hyperactive state of the nervous system (Marano, 2007). Depression should not be considered merely the disorder of the brain for it has very strong associations with the whole body. Prolonged physical illness can lead to development of depression symptoms and vice versa. Proper treatment and follow-up are required for a successful management of depression. The therapy does not solely rely on the pharmacological techniques, but also upon exercise and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for an improved outcome. References Lawson, W. (2003, May 01). The Obesity-Depression Link. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200305/the-obesity-depression-link Litchman, J. H., Bigger, J. T., Blumenthal, J. A., Frasure-Smith, N., Kaufmann, P. G., Lesperance, F., Mark, D. B., Sheps, D. S., Taylor, C. B., & Froelicher, E. S. (2008). Depression and coronary heart disease: Recommendations for screening, referral, and treatment - A science advisory from the American Heart Association Prevention Committee of the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing, Council on Clinical Cardiology, Council on Epidemiology and Prevention, and Interdisciplinary Council on Quality of Care and Outcomes Research. Circulation, 118, 17, 1768–1775. Moussavi, S., Chatterji, S., Verdes, E., Tandon, A., Patel, V., & Ustun, B. (September 08, 2007). Depression, chronic diseases, and decrements in health: results from the World Health Surveys. The Lancet, 370, 9590, 85–858. Marano, H. E. (July 9, 2007). How to Fight Depression and Anxiety. Psychology Today. Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/200707/how-fight-depression-and-anxiety Psychology Today. (2012). Depression. Psychology Today: Psych Basics. Retrieved from: http://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/depression Read More