Mental Health: Depression

Hello, stemians community. @ air-clinic has placed a thematic week and among its topics to discuss is mental health. We all know that we can not only become physically ill, but mentally. Many times we are depressed by the situation in the country or by a situation of life, by losing a family member and not fulfilling our grief. These make us fall into a depressive state that sometimes must be treated pharmacologically.

In depression a set of symptoms predominates, this goes more to the affective side and who suffers it can show sadness, irritability, apathy, decay, hopelessness, discomfort and impotence in the face of the vicissitudes of life.

Locating the origin of a depressive state is complex, since it is a multifactorial disease, although there are factors in the people who predispose it to occur. Some studies claim that these factors are biological, psychological and social.

What are the symptoms of depression?
Symptoms in depressive people may manifest differently. The most common symptomatology in those who suffer from it is:
• Memory problems.
• Loss of sexual interest
• Feelings of worthlessness, hypochondria or guilt.
• Negative thoughts.
• Desires of death or suicidal ideas.
• Loss of energy or fatigue.
• Sadness, hopelessness.
• Loss of interest in the activities with which they enjoyed or have little pleasure in doing them.
• Irritability.
• Cry for no apparent reason Sleep problems
• Loss of appetite or desire to eat.

Symptomatology:

The symptomatology of a depressive patient can be different in each age. Usually in young people the symptoms are shown in the form of behavior; while in adults the symptoms are usually somatic.
People suffering from depression have a series of symptoms that can be included in five main categories:
• Mood symptoms
• Motivational and behavioral symptoms
• Cognitive symptoms
• Physical symptoms
• Interpersonal symptoms

Types of Depression:
There are different types and subtypes of depression.

1. Major depressive disorder. This type of disorder is one of the most complex and serious. It is subdivided into:
   • Major depressive disorder, single episode: if only one episode appears
   • Major depressive disorder, recurrent episode: if there has been at least one other major depressive episode in life.
   These subtypes are divided into: catatonic type, melancholic type, atypical type, postpartum type and seasonal type.

2. Dysthymic disorder. This type of disorder is less severe than the previous one, but more sustained over time, the patient may experience depression for at least two years.

3. Major depressive disorder not specified. This includes depressive disorders that do not meet criteria for inclusion in other categories. The most frequent are: Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, Postpsychotic depressive disorder in schizophrenia, Minor depressive disorder, Recurrent brief depressive disorder

4. Depression for a duel. Some people after the loss of a loved one need the help of a specialist to leave this state.

How is depression diagnosed?

Depressive diagnosis must be made by a specialist. The person suffering from this disease often presents key points that awaken the alert among family members or friends. Usually, a depressed patient usually shows deterioration in appearance and grooming, is slow at the psychomotor level, his attention decreases, his tone of voice is low, spontaneous crying, his vision of life is pessimistic, he feels guilt, he can be hypochondriacal , suffers sleep disturbances, among others.

When reading these symptoms we could say that we are depressed patients, but we must ask ourselves how often are these episodes in our life, if they are followed we should go to the specialist to evaluate us clinically and see how serious, and how high is the degree of functional and social deterioration.

Some anxious states can be declared clinically depressive, hence the importance that, if it is the case, be attended by a specialist. An individual suffering from depression can incur alcohol abuse, psychotropic substances and some organic brain and systemic diseases. Depression is usually associated with eating disorders (bulimia, anorexia) and some personality disorders.

Depression can manifest at any age, however some studies claim that its highest prevalence occurs between 15 and 45 years. In adolescence it is common to see that this disease appears because of all the social pressure the adolescent is under.

Can depression lead to suicide?

Depression is associated with suicidal behavior. Studies reveal that the risk of suicide is four times higher in people with depression compared to the general population, and 20 times higher in the case of severe depression.

Therefore, it is important to assess the risk of suicide in a depressed patient, since suicidal behavior results from countless situations and factors that combine to generate a range that goes from ideation to consummated suicide.

The greatest risk of suicide, in general, occurs during the depressive episode and in the period of partial remission. Among the factors most associated with the risk of suicide in depressed patients are: men tend to commit suicide more, the family history of a mental disorder, severe levels of depression, previous suicide attempt, hopelessness, anxious states and abuse of alcohol and other drugs.

What can be the cause of depression?
Different events can act as triggers of depression in people, since as a multifactorial disease it is not known exactly what triggers the episodes., Since sometimes it appears without an apparent cause. Some of the possible scenarios that trigger a depressive episode are:
• Previous depressive episodes.
• Family background.
• Stress
• Death of loved ones, unemployment, loneliness, others.
• Physical or psychological trauma.
• Present physical illness or chronic health problems.
• Alcohol abuse and drug use can aggravate depression.
• In the case of women, some may have depression after childbirth.

Does the depression treatment?

Depending on the type of depression, the environment and the patient, the depression will be treated differently, however here we leave you several treatments that the specialists have put into practice:
Self-help techniques: acupuncture, yoga, massage or certain food supplements can help the person with depression, although there is no firm evidence these tend to relax the patient.
Psychological therapies: going to therapy with the specialist helps to redirect many of the depressive episodes. Talking with a specialist to help you understand what you are going through is of vital importance.
Pharmacological therapy: In general, severe or chronic depression should be medically and attend therapies with the specialist.

The treatment applied to the individual suffering from depression depends on each case and its symptoms, the main thing that both the specialist and the patient must take into account, working together and using a treatment that works, giving them the necessary time to make that happen.