The term “depression” historically means a heavy feeling, or a feeling of something pressing down on an individual. A state of depression is characterized by a state of emotional sadness, gloominess and feelings of worthlessness. People who are depressed experience sadness, distant thoughts, a loss of hope and sometimes become apprehensive and anxious. This disorder is recorded as one of the most popular and it currently affects in excess of three hundred and forty million people worldwide.
Depression is now more common than it was previously, because of updated methods of research and studies that are being concluded in this area. The disorder is a complex one and affects different people with different symptoms for each. Unlike previously, people who suffer from depression can be more easily diagnosed and treated for their symptoms. Having low spirits, or being in a sad mood can be a private feeling, however, depending on the duration of the symptoms, it can be more than just that (Myers, 2004) .
Not many people will have the same symptoms of depression as others, some will deny the feelings that they experience. They will try to mask it with irritability or hiding themselves away from the public. There are instances in which the individual experiences the symptoms for more than six days, or becomes lethargic, lose or gain weight, or are staying inside and by themselves more than usual. When these behaviors occur, medical attention should be sought.
In order to define the boundaries between the extremes that individuals go to, in normal behavior and that of depression continues to be a puzzling factor for psychologists worldwide. This factor is problematic, especially in the case of the disorder in the younger people. This is so, because they tend to go through physical and cognitive changes previous to, and during adolescence. They sometimes feel more deeply than others and experience moodiness and ire more often. They are also at that age where they will gain, or lose weight more easily than other age groups and sleep more. Some are shy, because of the way in which they are treated, socialized, or if they are unhappy with the developments that are taking place both within, and outside of their bodies.
Psychiatrists and psychologists, as well as parents and other family members, will experience some amount of difficulties in trying to distinguish these emotions. In contrast, these young people may experience a difficulty in describing their feelings and will oftentimes confuse feelings of sadness, with that of anger. They will not be able to tell how they feel if they are depressed or explain their feelings of self-denigration, or hopelessness. Trying to assess people who display symptoms of depression should begin with their diagnosis.
It will be possible to conduct an interview with the person privately. Parents or family members are not able to give reliable accounts of the behaviors of individuals. Many times the family members will not notice the symptoms, or will ignore it as “just a phase,” that they are going through. This is an important aspect of the diagnosis, as depression can lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. The information should be gathered from sources such as the teachers, peers, friends, family members and others who the affected individuals may associate with, on a daily basis. This information should then be compiled and assessed, in order to come to a valid conclusion (Harrington, 2001).
The management and treatment of depression is widely dependent on the types of issues that were identified, while the individual was being assessed. The assessment may uncover that the individual’s behavior was consistent with their respective situations. If it is mild depression, then it would require an earlier approach and intervention, which can include sympathetic discussions with the individuals. In the case of children, parents should be consulted and measures put in place to reduce the stressors in the child’s household.
Support and attention should be consistent and close monitoring in instances where the child goes off to be by themselves. Older adults are also prone to depression, mainly because of life situations, relationships, divorces, feelings of unfulfillment and also feelings of abandonment. Older adults may come to the conclusion that it is better to end their lives, than to continue to live the way that they do. Because of the infrequency of visits from children, they may feel neglected or abandoned.
With a lack of close supervision in some cases, it is easier for them to think out their suicide plan and execute it, without interruption, or intervention. A study from the Epidemiologic Catchment Area, found that depression had a one year prevalence of 0.9% among adults aged 65 years and over and 2.3% for those aged between 45 and 64 years old. It also showed that between the age ranges of 30-44, there were 3.9% who were depressed.
For older people, suicides were conducted through psychological autopsy and it showed that psychiatric illnesses, such as depression, was a factor in many deaths. The older people will commit suicide because they experience unbearable pain and perturbed feelings. In a bid to flee from their pain, eliminate feelings of being “boxed in,” helpless, hopeless or rejected. They consider suicide to be a necessity, as it will provide a relief from their pain and suffering. In addition to that, they feel as if they will not be missed, because that have already lived their lives and are now old (Chapman, PhD & Perry, DrPH, 2007).
A history of attempted suicide and intentions towards suicide has been found to co-relate to the actual act of suicide. Older people experience problems with fitting in, or adjusting. Life changes will promote these feelings. If they were once used to a certain way of life, and it is changed because of the passing of a spouse, they will experience helplessness in their childlike minds. One idea that was hypothesized by Sigmund Freud, Identification-aggression, was also a determining factor in adult suicide. The older population is also known to turn to alcohol, prior to their suicide attempts, or success.
Research shows that a deficiency in the neurotransmitters of serotonin and noradrenaline, or norepinephrine in the brain is what leads to depression. It shows that people who have relatives with the symptoms of depression, are more prone to the disorder. This was in comparison to approximately one of fourteen of the general population. Other causes are sometimes based on external factors, such as the perceived “norm” that is set by society, which is sometimes responsible for feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem in individuals (Kanter, Busch, Weeks & Landes, 2008).
Other external factors that can trigger the disorder are an individual’s fear of failing, family separation, death of a loved one, or an illness that is debilitating, or life changing. In many other cases, the disorder is known to strike with no apparent reason. There are different methods of treating this debilitating disorder, which can span from medication to support groups, or counseling. Even though the disorder is perceived to be one of the most easily treatable mental disorders, there are only about a half of the amount of patients, worldwide who are successfully treated, or even diagnosed.
The most reasonable explanation of the disorder is chemical imbalance in an individual’s brain. If this imbalance is treated, then the symptoms will inevitably disappear. The effects of the antidepressants are usually visible within two or three weeks of being treated. Feelings of hopelessness and sadness will gradually dissipate and will be replaced by increased energy, improvement in appetite and in sleep. Treatments that include antidepressants normally last for between 4 and 6 months.
Other studies have shown that over seventy percent of the people who suffer from depression will respond to the treatment. The ones who do not respond would have increased dosage, or change antidepressants. If this method does not work, the doctor may suggest electro-conclusive therapy. This method is reserved for the severest cases of depression and in instances where the patients are unresponsive to treatment or if they are not able to tolerate antidepressants. It was predicted by the World Health Organization, (WHO) that depression will become the greatest burden of ill-health, by 2020. The disorder was also predicted as the second-largest cause of disability and death in the world by then.
One successful treatment of depression normally includes the use of lithium. The use was just to add to the treatment for the individuals who have a low tolerance level for antidepressants. Most of the patients who have already received the drug, now experience side effects. Many have shown symptoms of toxicity. The drug was banned by the FDA, in response to several people who had died in 1949. Many other side effects are present when it comes to the use of lithium. One of the most frequently experienced symptoms was shakiness in the hands. It was suffered by 25 to 50% of the patients who use it and will get better over time and with a reduction in their dosage (Kanter, Busch, Weeks & Landes, 2008).
Chapman, PhD, D., & Perry, DrPH, G. (2007). Depression as a Major Component of Public Health for Older Adults. PMS US National Library Of Medicine, 5(1). Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2248771/
Harrington, R. (2001). Depression, suicide and deliberate self-harm in adolescence. British Medical Bulletin, 57(1), 47-60. doi:10.1093/bmb/57.1.47
Kanter, J., Busch, A., Weeks, C., & Landes, S. (2008). The Nature of Clinical Depression: Symptoms, Syndromes, and Behavior Analysis. PMC US National Library Of Medicine, 31(1), 1-21. Retrieved from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2395346/
Myers, D. (2004). Psychology, 10th. New York: Worth Publishers.