Topic > Problems, research and treatment of major depressive disorder

Index IntroductionBody TreatmentConclusionReferencesIntroductionMajor depressive disorder is a mental illness characterized by depressed mood, loss of interests, impaired functioning, and physical symptoms, such as sleep or appetite disturbances. Major depression occurs more often in women than in men and affects one in six adults during their lifetime. The history of major depression is multifactorial and is estimated to be passed down in approximately 35%. Additionally, environmental factors, such as sexual abuse, physical abuse, and emotional abuse during childhood, are strongly associated with the risk of developing depression—no one really has the answers. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Body Major depression (PD) is a mood disorder that causes a constant feeling of sadness and loss of interest. The term PD can also be called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, it affects the way you feel, think and behave on a daily basis and can also lead to a number of emotional and physical problems. You may have difficulty carrying out normal daily activities and may sometimes feel like life is not worth living. An estimated 16.2 million adults in the United States, or 6.7% of American adults, have had at least one major depressive episode in a given year. According to global and local statistics. Major depression not only affects the person who suffers from it, but also affects family and friends. Depression is estimated to cost the economy $30 to $40 billion per year. This article will discuss the history and treatment of major depression. In a 2007 survey of approximately 20,500 college students across 39 campuses conducted by the American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment, 43.2 percent of students reported "feeling so depressed that it was difficult to function." at least once in the last 12 months. More than 3,200 students at the university reported being diagnosed with depression, with 39.2% diagnosed in the past 12 months, 24.2% currently being treated for depression, and 35.8% taking medication antidepressants. Of all students surveyed, 10.3% admitted to “seriously considering a suicide attempt” in the past 12 months, and 1.9% actually attempted suicide during that time. Depression is known to affect academic progress as well as personal problems at school, with severe forms of depression occurring. combined with higher levels of impairment. Treatment of depression with college students has been associated with a protective effect on these students' grades. In order to diagnose and treat early and effectively, and to reduce the excess and risk of suicide associated with depression, some US universities have begun screening students for depression in primary care. These studies have been taking place since 1990. While the data shown above might be a bit surprising, it is not to most US university mental health clinicians and administrators. According to the 2008 national survey of counseling center directors, 95% of respondents believe that in recent years there has been a trend towards an increase in the number of students with psychological problems. In 2008, an estimated 26 percent of counseling center clients were taking psychiatric medications, compared to 20 percent in 2003, 17 percent in 2000, and 9 percent in 1994. And while the suicide rate among college students may be decreased in recent decades, Suicide remains the third leading cause ofdeath among adolescents and young adults. There are challenges in providing care to college students. These challenges include significant academic pressure in semester cycles, long semester breaks that result in treatment interruptions, and a heavy reliance on community supports that may be inconsistent. Given the impact of depression on college campuses and the diverse services offered by academic mental health centers throughout the United States, there is a significant need to evaluate successful treatment models and outcomes. The current body of literature on depression outcomes among U.S. college students is sparse, and for the four studies they found, varying inclusion and exclusion criteria and length of treatment make interpretation of the results difficult. While Kelly and colleagues and Lara and colleagues used the DSM-IV Structured Clinical Interview to diagnose participants with major depressive disorder, Gesner, Pace, and Dixon used self-report scales to measure depressive symptoms for study inclusion and Pace and Dixon excluded students with severe levels of depressive symptoms. All four studies involved students who were not seeking treatment and who were offered course credit for participation, a reward that could have influenced improved outcomes. There was no consistent standard used in these studies to define a student as having depression, even when using the same assessment tool. In terms of length of treatment, only two out of four studies reviewed followed students for approximately 9 weeks. The amount of time over which students are tested is especially critical for the college population, where time is defined by a semester calendar, moods are often common to exam schedules, and treatments are adjusted to fit upcoming vacations . Today's university mental health services appear to employ short-term models of care with referral to outside clinicians if long-term treatment is needed. Given the dynamics, future mental health research in universities will need to establish quality standards for monitoring and following up on student treatment outcomes. Unfortunately, the findings from these four studies may not be fully applicable to college students today or in the future. Treatment Medication and therapy are effective for most people with depression. Your primary care doctor may prescribe medications to reduce symptoms. However, many people with depression benefit from seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist, or other mental health professional. If you have severe depression, you may need to stay in the hospital for a while, or you may need to participate in an outpatient treatment program until your symptoms go away. Better. Psychotherapy is a general term for treating depression by talking about your condition and other problems with a mental health professional. .Several types of psychotherapy can work for depression, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy. Your mental health professional may also recommend other types of therapies. Which can help you adapt to a crisis or other, identify negative behaviors and replace them with healthy ones, and explore relationship experiences. Some people's depression may be so severe that you may need to stay in hospital longer, this may be necessary if you are unable to physically care for yourself example: suicide or other dangerous activity. Psychiatric treatment in hospital can help you stay calm/