Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Depression is also known as major depressive order and clinical depression. Depression affects how you feel about you everyday life. Symptoms: For everyone-
Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or hopelessness
Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration (even over small matters)
Loss of interest or pleasure in most/all normal activities, such as hobbies or sports
Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much
Tiredness and lack of energy
Changes in appetite — often reduced appetite and weight loss, but increased cravings for food and weight gain in some people
Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself for things that aren't your responsibility
Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things
Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
Unexplained physical problems (like back pains)
In adults-
Memory difficulties or personality changes
Physical aches or pain
Fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep problems, aches or loss of interest in sex — not caused by a medical condition or medication
Often wanting to stay at home, rather than going out to socialize or doing new things
Suicidal thinking or feelings, especially in older men
Situational vs Clinical Depression Situational Depression: Typically major stressors in life such as a death of a loved one. The length of time for will bring on SD such as a divorce or a situational depression symptoms usually coincides with the duration of the stressful events. Situational depression is normal and these stressors should bring on feelings of angst, the blues, and other symptoms. Emotionally healthy people grieve over these situations. Situational depression will typically remit once the stressors are no longer present or it will decrease as one learns to cope with the situation. This kind of depression might respond to exercise and diet as well. Clinical Depression: Sometimes the major stressors in life will trigger Clinical Depression; when this occurs, making the distinction between situational and clinical depression can be a challenge. Suicidal thoughts are a telltale sign of clinical depression. Chemical imbalances are typically not associated with situational depression; however, some genetic studies are “showing” that exposure to long periods of trauma or stress “might” turn certain genes on or off, may cause them to mutate and therefore affect the chemistry of the brain. These studies are in their early stages; however, scientists are making great efforts in the field of genetics and mental illness. We have already discovered that the more stressors/traumas that one has had, the more vulnerable one is to developing clinical depression either presently or in the future; especially in those who are genetically predisposed to clinical depression.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS FOR THE PATIENT 1. What are some common symptoms that patients experience when affected by the specific mental health disorder that you have been assigned?
In younger children, symptoms of depression may include sadness, irritability, clinginess, worry, aches and pains, refusing to go to school, or being underweight.
In teens, symptoms may include sadness, irritability, feeling negative and worthless, anger, poor performance or poor attendance at school, feeling misunderstood and
extremely sensitive, using drugs or alcohol, eating or sleeping too much, self-harm, loss of interest in normal activities, and avoidance of social interaction.
2. What are some known or possible causes of this disorder? Death of a family member, conflict, genetics 3. How many people in the US are diagnosed with the disorder? Around 15 million adults. What are some other relevant statistics that might be helpful for patients? Statistics about people who overcome depression. 4. What are some reasons someone might not seek help for this mental disorder? The isolation feeling depressed people have. You feel alone, so you don't really want to ask anyone. On the other hand, people might also be embarrassed to ask for help. 5. What other information do you think will help people better understand this mental health condition and seek appropriate help? If people were educated on all of the different methods that they could use to overcome their depression they would be more willing to seek help in their disease.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS FOR MEDICAL EXPERTS 1. What are some risk factors in mental illness? Risk factors can include a death in the family, a genetic history of depression, or certain physical illnesses. And how is the specific mental disorder you researched diagnosed? You can be diagnosed with the illness if the symptoms have been consistently present for two weeks. 2. What are general methods used to treat this mental disorder? You can take medications, visit a therapist, or do a combination of both. 3. Why is it important to identify and treat clinical depression in mental health? It is important to treat clinical depression because if it isn’t treated the symptoms only get worse. As it gets worse many people choose to end their lives (suicide), a path which is a permanent solution to a temporary problem. To prevent this death it is important to treat their depression. 4. What are some medical science careers available in helping and researching mental health issues? Psychologists, psychiatrists, professional counselors, etc. 5. What other information do you think will help people better understand this mental health condition and seek appropriate help? More (publicized) effects of depression on not only the victim but the family as well.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS FOR FAMILY AND LOVED ONES 1. What are the signs of the mental health disorder that you can identify? Child acting distant, withdrawn in daily activities. 2. What are some common symptoms that patients experience when affected by the specific mental health disorder that you have been assigned? Depressed patients experience loneliness, sadness, pessimism, and an empty feeling inside of them. List at least three local mental health resources/services available for helping and supporting people affected with this mental disorder as well as their family members. For help you can go to DBSA Metro Atlanta Support Group, Mark Gilson (psychologist), or Bryan Keith Teliho (psychiatrist). List at least three local mental health resources/services available for helping and supporting people affected with this mental disorder as well as their family members. 3. List at least three online resources with reliable information about this mental health condition and explain why you consider them credible. The website of the National Institute of Mental Health, the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, or freedomfromfear.org. These websites are trustworthy sources because they have examples of symptoms and well backed information about depression. 4. What other information do you think will help people better understand this mental health condition and seek appropriate help? Having information about how depression makes daily life hard for the affected. Also, if people knew about the kinds of treatment options they have they would be more willing to get help.