Depression: Symptoms, Causes and Treatment

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Table of Contents

Introduction
Symptoms of Depression
Causes of Depression
Testing Depression
Types of Depression
Treatment of Depression
Preventing Depression
Conclusion
References

Introduction

Depression is a kind of disorder that causes a lack of interest, anger, and persistent sadness. Clinical depression interferes with human feelings, thinking, and behavior that causes physical and emotional malfunctioning. Depression lowers self-esteem making the victim feel unworthy to live. Its persistence makes treatment difficult; long treatment is required to suppress the symptoms (Perini et al., 2019). Depression interferes with daily routine, wasting valuable time and lowering production. Persistent downs or blues, sadness, and anger may be signs of depression.

Symptoms of Depression

Though symptoms manifest differently in different people, depressed people have changing moods, sustained anger, anxiety, and restlessness. Most people will feel emptiness, sadness, and hopelessness coupled with a loss of interest in routine activities, suicidal thoughts, recklessness, and drug misuse. Adult men and women will lose the desire for sex and the power to perform (Kingsberg et al., 2019). Lack of concentration is another symptom that leads to uncompleted tasks and delayed responses. Sleeping patterns change, victims face none, little, or sleep long hours. Unwarranted headaches, malfunctioning digestive systems, and general fatigue can also manifest. Finally, children will be characterized by irritability, swing moods, crying, feeling of incompetence, and even refusing to go to school (Zhu et al., 2019). All the above must be checked to determine the level of depression for proper medication.

Causes of Depression

It is believed that depression can be caused by biological circumstances or events. People whose family backgrounds registered depression at one point or the other are at high risk of developing the complication. Trauma in childhood can be stressful in the future when meeting difficult situations. Research reveals that the inactive frontal lobe in the brain increases the risk of depression. Again, certain medical conditions may increase the chances of depression. These may include insomnia, chronic pain, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and even chronic illness (Pollak et al., 2019). Drug abuse and alcohol are the major contributors to depression as revealed in many kinds of research. Other causes may include mental illness, losing a loved one or source of livelihood, and certain medicines.

Testing Depression

Though there are no definite ways of diagnosing, healthcare personnel use symptoms manifesting to diagnose depression. Health providers also use psychological evaluation to determine and establish the level of depression. Changing moods and eating patterns are some of the ways diagnosis can be done. Loss of appetite and swing moods may be used as symptoms (Chen et al., 2020). Depressed people may have extreme patterns of sleep; they will either have no or sleep long hours. Finally, stress makes a person dormant or extremely active, or forces him to keep off all activities that form daily routines.

Because depression is a health problem, a physical examination may also be required. Blood analysis is necessary; thyroid complications and deficiency of Vitamin D manifest symptoms of depression. Care should be taken to handle patients since it affects their mental power. Extreme high or low weights, severe body pains, and attacks caused by panic can be used as tools to test depression. Stressed persons avoid others around them and cannot handle relationships, suicidal thoughts fill their minds too

Types of Depression

Depression is classified by how complicated the symptoms manifest in a person. Some cases may be mild while others have severe episodes. Major Depression Disorder (MDD) is a severe disorder characterized by persistent sadness, unworthiness, and hopelessness. Diagnosis is recommended if at least five symptoms manifest for at least two weeks consecutively. On the other hand, Persistent Depressive Disorder (PDD), also called dysthymia, is a mild depression type that may become very chronic at times (Winter et al., 2019). PDD is diagnosed if symptoms occur consecutively for two years. Low esteem, loss of interest in routine activities, reduced productivity and hopelessness are symptoms of PDD.

Treatment of Depression

Depression is a complicated medical condition, healthcare givers have several options for treatment. Managing depression can be achieved through a single or combination of several medications available. Lifestyle therapies in combination with medication are preferred for best results. Patients are given antidepressants, antianxiety, and antipsychotics as treatment (Nagai et al., 2020). Psychotherapists administer counseling to show patients how to deal with negative emotions and thoughts. Attending family and friends gathering sessions may be a plus towards healing.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is treated using a white light that helps regulate moods and suppress depression. SAD also referred to as Major Depressive Disorder happens seasonally. Physical exercises done at least three times a week increases the production of Endorphins hormones that improve moods. Finally, healthcare givers use alternative ways to treat depression in affected people (Pandarakalam, 2018). Acupuncture and herbal products are good in treating depression in combination with conventional medication.

Preventing Depression

Depression is a nasty medical condition whose causes are difficult to establish. Lifestyle change and proper medication prevent future occurrences of depression. Research reveals that avoiding alcohol and drug misuse reduces unnecessary anxiety and stress. Living and eating healthily, having enough sleep, and keeping proper medication will help suppress stress (Gothe et al., 2019). Avoiding things we cant do and focusing on what we can relieve certain stresses in life. Above all, people should maintain proper relationships that dont turn toxic to fuel depression.

Conclusion

Depression occurs at one point or the other in ones life. Society must be well trained to deal with people in depression. Healthcare and psychopathy specialists should be at service to the affected and work with families most affected by depression. This will help establish causes early to administer proper medication to avoid devastating effects later. The government should make medication free to all patients and find ways to stop drug misuse through its regulating agencies.

References

Chen, L., Magdy, W., Whalley, H., & Wolters, M. K. (2020). Examining the role of mood patterns in predicting self-reported depressive symptoms. In 12th ACM Conference on Web Science (pp. 164-173). Web.

Gothe, N. P., Ehlers, D. K., Salerno, E. A., Fanning, J., Kramer, A. F., & McAuley, E. (2019). Physical activity, sleep and quality of life in older adults: Influence of physical, mental and social well-being. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 18(6), 797-808. Web.

Kingsberg, S. A., Clayton, A. H., Portman, D., Williams, L. A., Krop, J., Jordan, R., & Simon, J. A. (2019). Bremelanotide for the treatment of hypoactive sexual desire disorder: Two randomized phase 3 trials. Obstetrics and Gynecology, 134(5), 899. Web.

Nagai, N., Tani, H., Yoshida, K., Gerretsen, P., Suzuki, T., Ikai-Tani, S., & Uchida, H. (2020). Drug attitude, insight, and patients knowledge about prescribed antipsychotics in schizophrenia: A cross-sectional survey. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 16, 781. Web.

Pandarakalam, J. P. (2018). Challenges of treatment-resistant depression. Psychiatria Danubina, 30(3), 273-284. Web.

Perini, G., Ramusino, M. C., Sinforiani, E., Bernini, S., Petrachi, R., & Costa, A. (2019). Cognitive impairment in depression: Recent advances and novel treatments. Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, 15, 1249. Web.

Pollak, Y., Dekkers, T. J., Shoham, R., & Huizenga, H. M. (2019). Risk-taking behavior in attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A review of potential underlying mechanisms and of interventions. Current Psychiatry Reports, 21(5), 1-11. Web.

Winter, L., Gottschalk, J., Nielsen, J., Wells, A., Schweiger, U., & Kahl, K. G. (2019). A comparison of metacognitive therapy in current versus persistent depressive disorderA pilot outpatient study. Frontiers in Psychology, 10, 1714. Web.

Zhu, X., Haegele, J. A., & Healy, S. (2019). Movement and mental health: Behavioral correlates of anxiety and depression among children of 617 years old in the US. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 16, 60-65. Web.

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