People Suffering from Depression - Case Study Example

Introduction A lot have been written about the advantages and benefits of exercise to the body, as well as the mind of an individual. The Greek and Hebrew philosophers may have viewed the mind and body as two different entities, but recent researchers have taken a holistic view on the body and mind (as stated by Paul Susic in St. Louis Psychologists and Counselling Information and Referral’s Sport Psychologists). Though less vague in comparison to the physiological benefits which has been a topic of too many researches, enhanced psychological well-being cannot be underestimated as end-result of getting into an exercise regimen. Exercise has been reported to reduce one’s feeling of depression and anxiety, as well as upgrading one’s cognitive skill and self appreciation. Any form of conscious activity requires utilizing both the mind and the body, much more if it’s a physical activity like exercising, be it a light or rigorous one. Exercise speeds up circulation of the blood, providing the brain with oxygen that aids in its function. According to Dr. Zeischegg, inadequate supply of oxygen to the brain can lead to poor concentration, mood swings, depressive thoughts, among others. Exercise likewise keeps the mind busy, allowing the person to veer away from whatever negative feelings he or she may be having at that point. It is imperative to add, however, that just like any other activity, exercise has to be done in moderation. Inexperience and lack of valuable information regarding chosen exercise may lead to adverse side effects and/or physical damage, thus, defying its purpose of psychological enhancement. It is also imperative to stress the acknowledgment that depression is not a one-day sickness that goes away after sleeping on it. An excruciating experience or event generally causes depression. This experience or event may have happened overnight but this does not follow that getting over it will happen just as fast. Realizing this fact generally helps the patient realize that overcoming depression needs to be gradual, not forced. Case Study 1 (Graham, 32 years old) Several activities have been considered with reference to enhancing psychological well-being of a person. Frequently considered are running, walking, cycling, and swimming. Since the only given facts in the case study I chose were gender, age, and physical health, I will assume that any of the above-mentioned exercises may be apt for him. Running. “Running actually has the ability to alter an individual’s moods because hormones called endorphins are released while running”, according to The Runners Guide’s The Many Benefits of Running. These hormones are said to give a feeling of euphoria (intense state of transcendant happiness combined with an overwhelming sense of contentment-Wikipedia). Runners are reported to be happier and feel less stressed as compared to those who do not run or regularly exercise. This may be because running allows the individual to divert his attention from the cause of depression or anxiety to the task of running. The environment in which the patient does the exercise also helps in diverting his mind from his depression. There are some who even run with friends to avoid the feeling of solitude since solitary state generally provides additional fuel to most people experiencing depression. In the event that the patient lacks company during this regimen, chances of bumping into someone doing the same exercise is very high, considering how more health-conscious people are starting to become. Walking. According to Cool Walking.com, studies show that walking reduces risks of heart disease, high cholesterol, colon cancer, among others. Furthermore, the US Dept. of Health 1996 associates regular physical activity like walking with reduced mortality rate. This shows that fit people are less prone to depression and anxiety. Signage on lifts advising people to use the stairs instead of the elevator for those moving just a floor up or down is one way of encouraging walking. This may be initially to lessen the traffic of people using lifts. However, given the statistics of how walking benefit people, physiologically and psychologically, advices such as these benefit the people more than the building’s facilities. Cycling. Cycling has a relaxing effect, according to Cyclehelmets.org. This is due primarily to the consistent cyclic movement which stabilizes the physical and emotional body functions. In effect, it negates anxiety and depression. Cyclehelmets further states cycling controls hormonal balance. In Japan, for example, people cycling going to school or work is a common place. Known for being health-conscious and long-lived race, Japanese people have proven that they are on the right track. Swimming. According to Health Swimming Benefits, swimming helps develop positive mental attitude and high self-esteem. It also reduces stress and soothes the mind and body. Whether one swims for pleasure or for competition, there always is a sense of achievement whenever a swimmer finishes a lap or simply gets to the other side of the pool. Since swimming requires sudden gasps for air to sustain the activity, the oxygen being supplied to the brain and the blood stream provides the body cells with the needed fuel to keep it running. Review of Past & Present Literature about Depression and Exercise Depression Past Literature. According to Jennifer Dubowsky, in 1998, Dr. John Allen and other researchers at University of Arizona used acupuncture (insertion of needles into the living tissue for remedial purposes-Wikipedia) to treat sample women with depression. More than half of the test subjects experienced 50% symptoms reduction. This was a remarkable result considering that women are considered to be doubly at risk of developing depression as compared to men. There is no distinct explanation as to why the female specie is more prone to depression. It may be because the male populace is socially expected to be the “stronger specie”. Thus, alleviating women from depression is considered to be a remarkable step in the treatment of depression. The research further claimed that acupuncture may alter brain chemistry by changing release of neurotransmitters and neurohormones for the better. There isn’t enough scientific data yet to back up this success but they are optimistic about the effectiveness of the treatment. Present Literature. “Depression is not something you can just snap out of”, according to depression.com. It is believed to be caused by brain chemical imbalance, among other factors. Since it is considered as a serious medical condition, treatment is necessary. However, it is the kind of treatment that needs the active participation of the person experiencing the dilemma. The site further states that imbalance in brain chemicals such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine can cause this medical condition. To balance this, antidepressants are prescribed. With the variety of antidepressants in the market, effects also vary, not to mention its accompanying side effects if taken without a prescription. Among the acknowledged side effects are weight loss, loss of appetite and dry mouth. There are even some that has sexual side effects. Exercise Past Literature. In a review of 24 studies published between 1980 and 1997 about physical exercise done by Kerry S. Courneya and Christine M. Friedenreich, 18 were experimental. The site, however, justifies the studies as due to limitations of their designs. However, it claims that the studies consistently showed that physical exercise has a positive effect on the quality of life. This includes personality functioning, mood states and self-esteem. Present Literature. Ciara Carruthers highlights that aerobic exercises have positive effects like mood enhancing, reduced anxiety and depression, as well as stress reduction. She further correlates a healthy mind with a healthy body. Review & Justification of Chosen Exercise Programme Prescribed to the Client The case study did not specify what the prescribed exercise programme was. However, given the data about the client, I assumed that the exercise programmes I enumerated above may all be prescribed to him. Running. Since Graham may be considered to be at the prime of his health, I see no adverse side effects in going into the running regimen. As with any other form of exercise, running must be done in moderation. No safety gadgets are deemed necessary except for comfortable running shoes and variation in the track. Continuous exposure of our feet’s soles to the same type of surface tends to impose rigid pressure. It would be wise to vary our running path from smooth (cemented pavement) to uneven (park grass) to rugged (hill slopes) surfaces. Walking. Though walking is considered less rigorous than running, it should not be done with complacency. Suitable footwear for walking should also be taken into consideration. It is common knowledge that the feet should be able to “breathe” to lessen the pressure being exerted to it by the whole body weight. What the patient wears should also be given attention so as to aerate the body and allow it to expel body heat due to the exercise done. Cycling. As compared to the first two mentioned above, cycling requires additional skills and more attention to details such as the trail ahead. Since cycling is basically done on the street, one must pay particular attention to crossings and dangerous curves, in addition to motorists which he is likely to come across. No dress code is strictly required of people cycling as a form of exercise, except for professional cyclists which are required to wear helmets and spandex materials to avoid countering of wind flow. Swimming. Needless to say, swimming is considered to be a form of exercise that utilizes the whole body. Unlike running and walking, swimming and cycling both need additional skills for the patient to be able to use this exercise regimen. Though there are some studies that claim improved respiratory function after going into this regimen, it would still be safe to consult a physician if the patient has any respiratory illness before attempting this exercise. Summary Depression is considered a medical condition, hence, a treatment is required. Generally, people consult psychiatrists to aid patients. As a common practice, patients are given medications to aid in their sleep, which they are generally deprived of being one of the consequences of experiencing depression. As in the case study I chose, the doctor has prescribed the patient with an anti-depressant drug. It was not clear in the given case scenario if the advice to go into an exercise regimen was because the anti-depressant drug didn’t seem to help the patient overcome his depression. It also did not state if the drug prescribed was inefficient, which expectedly, no physician would admit to. Doctor’s generally prescribe standard medications to specific ailments and prescribes alternative medications in case the former does not or has little effect on the patient. As I previously stated, prescription drugs to combat depression has different side effects. It is also proven that some medications that work with a specific patient is expected to have the same effect with other people. The doctor’s recommendation that Graham take up exercise to compliment his drug prescription may have stemmed out from the researches discussed above regarding the benefits that exercise does to enhancing a person’s well-being. Given his good physical health and prime age, Graham has several options to choose from as to what exercise regimen he may be interested on getting into. Since depression is a state of mind, activities such as running, walking, cycling, and swimming not only provide an individual with a venue to vent his mental dilemma. These activities also enhance the patient’s physiological being. As supported by researches entwining the body and the mind, betterment of one’s physical well-being also brings about enhancement of one’s psychological realm. A question was posed with Assessment 2. Are different exercise interventions for different populations critical to enhancing well-being? If “different populations” pertains to different age groups, I agree that exercise interventions will be critical. In the case of Graham who is at his prime at 32, he is generally given a wide variety of options to choose from to keep his mind astray from his depression. It is undeniable that older people has limited options regarding the exercise regimen that they can choose from. Commonly, younger population has more agility to withstand the pressure of an exercise programme as compared to those belonging to the higher age strata. Physical condition is another aspect that should not be understated. Needless to say, people suffering from ailments such has a heart disease or those whose physical conditions are not in a good state are less likely to be given such a variety of exercise regimen options to choose from. Since different exercises require different levels of stamina, different people with respect to age and physical conditions will benefit differently from the same exercise intervention. To conclude, people suffering from depression has the option to take prescribed anti-depressant drugs and/or exercise regimens as advised by their physicians. It is only prudent to be constantly in communication with their attending physician regarding the development of their medical condition. Given the fact that anti-depressant drugs may or may not have side effects to the patient, keeping their doctor abreast of how the medication affects their mental and physical state will assist their attending physician in analyzing the improvement of the patient’s psychological well-being. This also applies to prescribed exercise regimens the patient is advised of. Proper monitoring of the patient’s adaptation to the regimen will facilitate the physician’s analysis of the patient’s mental condition. Work Cited Susic, Paul MA Licensed Psychologist Ph.D. Candidate; Sport Psychologists; St. Louis Psychologists and Counselling Information and Referral; Web. Dr. Zeischegg MS, DC, DACNB; Oxygen-the Missing Link; (http://www.drz.org/asp/conditions/oxygen_deficiency.asp); Web. Benefits of Walking; http://www.coolwalking.com/benefits.html; Web. The Many Benefits of Running; The Runners Guide; http://www.therunnersguide.com/benefitsofrunning/; Web. The health benefits of cycling; cyclehelmets.org; Web. Psychological Benefits of Swimming; Health Swimming Benefits; May 14 2008; http://www.benefitsofswimming.com/index.php/psychological-benefits-of-swimming.htm; Web. How antidepressants work; depression.com; http://www.depression.com/how_antidepressants_work.html; Web. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Main_Page Dubowsky, L.Ac., M.S.O.M., Dipl.Ac.; Acupuncture and Depression: An Old Answer to an Old Problem; Acufinder.com; Web. Courneya, Kerry S. and Friedenreich, Christine M.; Physical exercise and quality of life following cancer diagnosis: A literature review; SpringerLink; http://www.springerlink.com/content/yn553526713551t0/; Web. Carruthers, Ciara; Psychological Effects of Exercise; Beginner Triathlete.com; http://www.beginnertriathlete.com/cms/article-detail.asp?articleid=734; Web. Read More