Treatment for depression and associated disorders is prescribed for over fifteen percent of the world's population.
All people at sometime in their life will suffer from the symptoms of depression.
It can be brought on by any negative event and can last for a day or two, or last a life time.
If depression symptoms last for longer than two weeks, it is then deemed to be clinical in nature.
What is depression? Depression is characterized by feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and feeling unworthy.
You may feel fatigued, moody, and irritable as well.
The symptoms will vary from one person to another in both their appearance and their severity.
This can make depression tough to diagnose.
Symptoms: - Easily agitated.
- Dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss.
- Concentration difficulties.
- Flat affect - no facial expressions.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Feeling hopeless and helpless.
- Low self-esteem, unwarranted guilt and self-loathing.
- Withdrawal from life's daily activities that were previously enjoyed.
- Consideration of suicide as an option.
- Insomnia - Sleeping too much Depression can even present as feelings of anger and discouragement with hallucinations and delusions.
A person who is depressed may also entertain thoughts of suicide as a way to get away from it all and end the emotional and physical pain.
It is important to try and pick up on the signals early with depression before they get out of hand and lead to suicide.
Treatment: Antidepressant and antipsychotic medications are the usual treatment.
Additionally, psychotherapeutic sessions with a licensed professional are also advised, to help the person cope with their feelings of hopelessness and helplessness.
It is in the best interests of the patient to combine both of these treatments.
Different medications will work better for some and not so well for others.
Caution must be taken when prescribing antidepressants to patients between 18 and 24 as they have a high risk of suicidal behaviour.
Medications include: Tricyclic antidepressants, Monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs) Lithium and thyroid medications may be necessary to supplement antidepressants, as they increase the actions of antidepressants.
Psychological symptoms, such as delusions or hallucinations are treated with antipsychotic medication, such as quetiapine, which has been approved for depression and bipolar disorder.
Electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT, administers electrical current to uplift the mood of those suffering from severe depression.
ECT is used when the patient does not respond well to other treatments.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), acts to modify brain function.
It resembles ECT, but without the side effects.
Light therapy administered during winter month when there is less sunlight can help to alleviate symptoms of depression.
If you are having symptoms of depression and have not notified your doctor, or if you have been diagnosed and your medication does not appear to be working, contact your health care provider.
It may be a simple matter of changing the dosage or the type of medication to make the treatment as effective as possible.