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Depression

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively impacts mood, thoughts, and behavior. It causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep, energy levels and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression has many potential causes including genetics, life stressors, trauma, medical illnesses and substance abuse. It is highly treatable with therapies and medication, with most patients experiencing relief from symptoms. Maintaining physical and mental wellness through healthy habits can also help reduce depressive symptoms.

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165 views9 pages

Depression

Depression is a common and serious medical illness that negatively impacts mood, thoughts, and behavior. It causes feelings of sadness and loss of interest in activities. Symptoms include changes in appetite, sleep, energy levels and thoughts of death or suicide. Depression has many potential causes including genetics, life stressors, trauma, medical illnesses and substance abuse. It is highly treatable with therapies and medication, with most patients experiencing relief from symptoms. Maintaining physical and mental wellness through healthy habits can also help reduce depressive symptoms.

Uploaded by

irene deiparine
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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DEPRESSION

WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
• Depression is a common and serious medical illness
that negatively affects how you feel, the way you
think and how you act.
• Depression causes feelings of sadness and/or a loss
of interest in activities you once enjoyed. It can lead
to a variety of emotional and physical problems and
can decrease your ability to function at work and at
home.
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF
DEPRESSION?
• Feeling sad or having a depressed mood
• Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
• Changes in appetite — weight loss or gain unrelated to dieting
• Trouble sleeping or sleeping too much
• Loss of energy or increased fatigue
• Increase in purposeless physical activity (e.g., inability to sit still,
pacing, handwringing) or slowed movements or speech (these actions
must be severe enough to be observable by others)
• Feeling worthless or guilty
• Difficulty thinking, concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide
WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?
• Abuse - Past physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can increase the vulnerability to clinical
depression later in life.
• Certain Medications - Some drugs, such as isotretinoin (used to treat acne), the antiviral
drug interferon-alpha, and corticosteroids, can increase your risk of depression.
• Conflict - Depression in someone who has the biological vulnerability to develop depression
may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family members or friends.
• Death or a loss - Sadness or grief from the death or loss of a loved one, though natural, may
increase the risk of depression.
• Genetics - A family history of depression may increase the risk. It's thought that depression is
a complex trait, meaning that there are probably many different genes that each exert
small effects, rather than a single gene that contributes to disease risk. The
genetics of depression, like most psychiatric disorders, are not as simple or
straightforward as in purely genetic diseases such as Huntington's
chorea or cystic fibrosis.
• Major events - Even good events such as starting a new job, graduating, or
getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income,
getting divorced, or retiring. However, the syndrome of clinical depression is
never just a "normal" response to stressful life events.
• Other personal problems - Problems such as social isolation due to other
mental illnesses or being cast out of a family or social group can contribute
to the risk of developing clinical depression.
• Serious illnesses - Sometimes depression co-exists with a major illness or may
be triggered by another medical condition.
• Substance abuse - Nearly 30% of people with substance abuse problems also
have major or clinical depression. Even if drugs or alcohol temporarily make
you feel better, they ultimately will aggravate depression.
HOW IS DEPRESSION TREATED?

• Depression is among the most treatable of mental disorders. Between 80% and
90% percent of people with depression eventually respond well to treatment.
Almost all patients gain some relief from their symptoms.
• Before a diagnosis or treatment, a health professional should conduct a
thorough diagnostic evaluation, including an interview and a physical
examination. In some cases, a blood test might be done to make sure the
depression is not due to a medical condition like a thyroid problem or a
vitamin deficiency (reversing the medical cause would alleviate the
depression-like symptoms). The evaluation will identify specific symptoms
and explore medical and family histories as well as cultural and environmental
factors with the goal of arriving at a diagnosis and planning a course of action.
SELF HELP AND COPING
• There are a number of things people can do to help reduce the symptoms
of depression. For many people, regular exercise helps create positive
feeling and improves mood. Getting enough quality sleep on a regular
basis, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol (a depressant) can also
help reduce symptoms of depression.
• Depression is a real illness and help is available. With proper diagnosis
and treatment, the vast majority of people with depression will
overcome it. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, a first step
is to see your family physician or psychiatrist. Talk about your concerns
and request a thorough evaluation. This is a start to addressing your
mental health needs.
REFERENCES

• American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5),


Fifth edition. 2013.
• National Institute of Mental Health. (Data from 2013 National Survey on Drug Use and Health.) 
www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/prevalence/major-depression-among-adults.shtml
• Kessler, RC, et al. Lifetime Prevalence and Age-of-Onset Distributions of DSM-IV Disorders in the
National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005;62(6):593602. 
http://archpsyc.jamanetwork.com/article.aspx?articleid=208678
THE END
THANK YOU!

PRESENTED BY: MYRIEL MOSTER

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