Possible Treatments of Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder - Essay Example

A Letter about the Aetiologies and Possible Treatments of Major Depression and Bipolar Disorder Major Depression Major depression is a mood disorder which leads to constant feelings of sadness, worthlessness and loss of interest. It is an illness that is categorized by an intense and persistent feelings of sadness, worthlessness and hopelessness, and those who are depressed are often seen as miserable, hopeless or worthless (Barnes, 2012). It affects how individuals’ feel, think or behave resulting to various emotional or psychological problems. Studies cited major depression as the leading factor behind disability (Beck and Alford, 2009). Generally, symptoms of depression include agitation, lack of energy, loss of appetite, feelings of worthlessness or hopelessness, thought of committing suicide, loss of interest in performing daily activities, change of sleeping patterns, hallucinations or delusions (Davey, 2011). Specifically, features of major or uni-polar depression include sleep disturbance, weight loss or gain, feeling of hopelessness among others (Barnes, 2012). Studies reveal that major depression is an inherited disorder but it can as well affect individuals with no family history of this disorder. Causes of Major Depression Despite the continuous researches and studies on causes of major depression, the exact cause of depression is not known. However, there are many factors suggested to be the common causes of major depression. Firstly, biological differences and chemical imbalance in the brain have been pointed as causal factors of major depression. Individuals suffering from depression tend to have physical changes in their brains. In addition, neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals greatly contribute to depression. For instance, when these chemicals are imbalanced, it can be linked with depressive symptoms. From biological point of view, biochemical factors cause major depression. Major depression is caused by the deficiency of brain neurotransmitters mainly the norepinephrine, serotonin, and dopamine (Thomas & Hersen, 2010). Studies show that the level of norepinephrine in the brain is very low in those who are suffering from depression. Secondly, genetic factors also cause depression and scholars are focused on finding the specific genes involved in triggering depression. Various studies reveal that this disorder is inherited and so it is more common in individuals whose relatives also have suffered from this disorder. Major depression can be inherited and with this, relatives can easily develop the disorder, for instance, the family studies noted that depression runs in the family in that, relatives of those diagnosed with depression are to a large extent affected by this illness. Moreover, major depression is also caused by changes in hormones. Changes in hormone in individuals’ body are more likely to trigger depression. Further, traumatic life events like death, childhood abuse and neglect, divorce and stress can as well trigger depression in some individuals. Studies show that severe life events without social support are likely to cause major depression (Thomas & Hersen, 2010). Many researchers believe that depression is not only caused by chemical imbalance in the brain but it caused by a combination of depression is caused by a combination of biological, psychological, and social factors. Biological factors have been perceived as the main reason for the development of major depression. Generally, biological explanation states that when there is chemical imbalance of neurotransmitters there will be inability of brain chemicals to function as required and this triggers the onset of major depression. On the contrary, psychological factors have been seen as maintaining this illness and psychologist believe that major depression is mainly cause by anger turned inward. Social factors including traumatic life events expose individuals to major depression. These negative and traumatic life events are what causes negative perception and thinking of an individual, and this makes people to develop a very negative attitude towards self, the world as a whole and have negative expectations of the future. Freud associated death and major depression and he argues that people unconsciously develop negative feelings towards their loved ones and when they lose them, these negative feelings are redirected on themselves manifesting as depression. Possible Treatments Undoubtedly, this disorder can sometimes need prolonged treatment. Many individuals suffering from depression feel relieved and better with either medication or psychological counseling or with both. Even though there are many treatments for depression, medications and psychotherapy are very effective for many individuals. Those suffering from depression can either choose to visit a psychiatrist to prescribe medication or visit a psychological counselor. There are various antidepressant medications available for treating depression including selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors like fluoxetine and paroxetine; serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors like duloxetine; and norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors like bupropion among others (Freberg, 2010). All these antidepressants are used in treating depression and their main function is to bring back the chemicals in the brain to the required levels and they also assist in relieving symptoms. Antidepressants are effective in regulating the production and distribution of the neurotransmitters especially in increasing the availability of the receptor site (Thomas & Hersen, 2010). Other mediations for short-term use include mood stabilizers or antipsychotics, anti-anxiety and stimulant medications to control depression. Accordingly, psychological counseling also known as psychotherapy or talk therapy is also an effective way to treat depression and it mainly involves talking about the condition with a mental health provider. Ideally, talk therapy is all about sharing feelings and thought and this assist individuals learn how to deal with their feelings and condition. There are various types of psychotherapy which can be very effective for depression like cognitive behavioral, psycho education, and interpersonal therapy among others. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps depressed individuals to avoid negative thoughts and also learn how to be more informed about their symptoms and how to identify issues worsening their depression and also develop problem solving skills. Cognitive therapies have been proved effective in alleviating symptoms of depression and it is believed to be the most effective psychological intervention of depression. On the other hand, psycho education is where an individual is being taught about their illness, how to manage it and identify signs of relapse to be able to receive necessary treatment before the illness worsens. Moreover, interpersonal therapy mainly focuses on how to improve personal relationships which can contribute to individuals’ depression. Here, therapists teach individuals to evaluate their relationships with others and try to cope up with them and understand then accordingly. All these therapies play a leading role in promoting individuals’ well being as they help ease depression symptoms like hopelessness and sadness. Psychotherapy also enables those with depression to successfully adjust to the situation. More so, such therapies will enable individuals to identify factors contributing to their depression and be able to change them with healthier behaviors. Other available treatments for this disorder are electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and these are mostly used upon the failure of medication. ECT is where electric currents are passed via the brain of the depressed individuals so as to affect the level of neurotransmitters in their brain. This procedure is believed to provide immediate relief of major depression especially in cases where other treatments have failed. It is generally safe and is the best way to improve mood in people suffering from major depression. However, it may cause headache or even temporary memory loss in some cases. This method is preferably used for individuals whose condition do not get better with medications or those who cannot take antidepressants for various reasons. On the contrary, TMS is a commonly used procedure for those depressed individuals who have not reacted to the antidepressants. Normally during TMS, individuals are requested to sit in a resting chair with a treatment coil placed against their scalp. This coil is responsible for sending brief magic pulses so as to arouse nerve cells in the brain involved in mood regulation and depression. Bipolar Disorder Another name for this illness is manic depression and it is a mental illness mainly determined by mood swings. Individuals suffering from bipolar disorder experience highs and lows periods commonly referred to as mania and depression respectively. Generally, mania is determined by extreme situations such as happiness and hyperactivity. More so, minimal or no sleep plus rapid speech are also common signs of manic periods. On the other hand, depressive episode is characterized by extreme sadness, loss of interest in performing daily activities, feelings of helplessness and hopelessness among others. This illness leads to serious shifts in individuals’ moods usually from high points to low levels. The initial manic or depressive period of bipolar disorder is mostly experience during teenage years or early adulthood. This illness is so intense and it greatly interferes with individual’s ability to function effectively. Causes of Bipolar Disorder Agreeably, the major factors causing bipolar disorder are not clear. Many scholars believe that there is no single cause of bipolar disorder. Arguably, the leading forces associated with the set off and development of this illness includes factors from the environment, chemicals in the brain and genetic factors. Bipolar disorder is inherited and studies reveal that many individuals suffering from this illness have someone from the family that has a mood disorder. Those individuals with parents, non identical or identical twin suffering from this disorder are at a higher risk of being affected by this illness. Some individuals are genetically predisposed to this illness but not everyone with an inherited trait develops the disorder and this shows that there are other factors that cause bipolar disorder. Just like in major depression, chemical imbalance in the brain has been identified as one of the major causes of bipolar disorder. More so, malfunctioning of neurotransmitters, increased level of the stress hormone, abnormal thyroid function, and circadian rhythm disturbances have also been pointed out as factors behind the occurrence of bipolar disorder. Biologically, this illness is believed to take place in a particular area in individuals’ brain. This disorder occurs due to the malfunctioning of some transmitters in the brain such as norepinephrine and serotonin among others. Serotonin is linked with many functions of the body such as sleep, wakefulness, learning, impulsivity, and memory among others and so abnormal functioning of brain circuits involving serotonin causes mood disorders like bipolar disorder. Furthermore, external environmental and psychological factors also contribute significantly to development of bipolar disorder. Psychologically, these external factors are referred to as triggers as they are able to create new episodes or worsen the existing symptoms. Some of these external factors include stress, substance abuse, medications, seasonal changes, and sleep deprivation. To begin with, stressful life events such as loosing loved ones or getting fired from job can trigger bipolar disorder especially in individuals with a genetic vulnerability. Secondly, substance abuse can trigger this disorder by setting off an episode or worsen the symptoms of this illness. Illicit drugs like cocaine can enhance mania whereas alcohol can trigger depressive episodes. Thirdly, some medications like antidepressants can enhance the occurrence of manic episodes. Moreover, seasonal changes also trigger bipolar disorder, for instance, manic periods are common during summer time whereas depressive episodes are commonly experienced during the fall, winter and spring. Lastly, loss of sleep has been identified as a common factor triggering manic episodes. Possible Treatments Treating bipolar can be categorized into three staring with acute treatment where the major focus is on how to suppress current symptoms; then continuation treatment which deals with the prevention of a return of symptoms from similar manic or depressive episodes; and lastly, maintenance treatment which mainly focuses on preventing a recurrence of symptoms.  Normally, if individuals suffering from bipolar disorder are depressed, they usual exhibit the obvious symptoms of major depression, but ways of treating bipolar disorder are very different. For instance, antidepressants if used to treat bipolar disorder can only make the condition worse. Bipolar disorder needs long-term treatment and so individuals suffering from this disorder require medication to prevent the occurrence of new episodes and get relieved from the symptoms. The most effective way to treat this disorder is using a combination of medication, therapy, changes in lifestyle, and also social support. Again, successful treatment of bipolar disorder needs a close supervision by an experienced psychiatrist. The main aim of various treatments for manic depression is to minimize the occurrence and severity of both manic and depressive episodes in order to enable individuals to have a normal life. Even though this disorder is perceived as a chronic condition, there are various effective treatments available. Some of the treatments commonly prescribed for bipolar include, mood stabilizers like lithium or carbamazepine (Stahl, 2008) and this method is more reliable and tolerated by many individuals. A combination of lithium and valproate (Stahl, 2008) can as well be prescribed to those suffering from bipolar disorder. Secondly, atypical antipsychotics also help in treating bipolar disorder and it may provide greater symptom relief. In addition, psychotherapy just like in major depression play a leading role in keeping those individuals suffering from bipolar disorder to be more stabilized and this therapy also assist in preventing any relapse. Psychotherapy helps individuals deal with depressive episodes and also enable them improve their relationships. Some of the most commonly used psychotherapies include cognitive behavioral therapy which has been proved to be the most effective way when treating depression. Psycho education helps individuals learn more about the disorder, and family therapy which mainly focuses on family relationships. This type of psychotherapy encourages family members to cooperate and improve individuals’ mental health. More so, changing lifestyle like engaging in regular exercise, improving diet and getting more sleep can also be helpful when it comes to managing bipolar disorder. To some individuals, psychological and medical treatment when used together is very effective in treating this disorder. Individuals can as well learn to recognize triggers to be able to prevent the occurrence of any episode. References Barnes, J. (2012). Essential Biological Psychology. London: SAGE. Beck, A. T., & Alford, B. A. (2009). Depression: Causes and treatment. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press. Davey, G. (2011). Applied Psychology. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley-Blackwell. Freberg, L. (2010). Discovering Biological Psychology. Belmont, Calif: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Stahl, S. M. (2008). Depression and bipolar disorder: Stahls essential psychopharmacology. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Thomas, J. C., & Hersen, M. (2010). Handbook of Clinical Psychology Competencies. New York: Springer. Read More