Mental Illness/Depression

by Allison Loftus

 

What is depression? 

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, depression can be generalized as feelings of sadness that interfere with daily activities (National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 2015). There are several different categories of depression that differ in their severity and symptoms. Some categories of depression include: major depression, persistent depressive disorder, psychotic depression, postpartum and seasonal affective disorder. Major depression shows severe symptoms that interfere with daily activities like the ability to sleep and eat. Major depression occurs in “episodes.” A person can experience an episode of major depression once in a lifetime, but typically it occurs more than once. An individual would be classified as having persistent depressive disorder if they experience a depressed mood that last for a minimum of two years (NIMH, 2015). Psychotic depression occurs when an individual has severe depression in combination with a form psychosis (delusions, hallucinations, etc.) (NIMH, 2015). Postpartum depression occurs in women after they experience childbirth. Women can find the changes in their bodies along with their new set of responsibilities to be extremely overwhelming. Seasonal affective disorder is classified as the onset of depression during the winter months. The person’s depression seems to subside during the spring months, when there is more sunlight. http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

Depression can be caused by several different factors. According to an article published by Harvard Medical School, depression can be caused by “faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events medications, and medical problems (Harvard Medical School, 2009). Our emotions are the result of millions of chemicals reacting in the brain. More specifically, it is thought that depression is caused by nerve cell growth and nerve cell connections (Harvard Medical School, 2009). Some research has shown that the hippocampus in the brain is smaller in individuals that experience low mood levels and that slow production of new neurons can cause depression (Harvard Medical School, 2009). This can be supported by the fact that anti-depressant medication increases the growth of neuron connections. The hippocampus is not the only part of the brain that affects the development of depression. The amygdala and thalamus play a role as well. These parts of the brain regulate and relay emotions and feelings, both of which play a role in depression.            http://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/what-causes-depression

Genes can also play a significant role in whether a person will develop depression or not. Genes make proteins that play a role in biological processes. Throughout the lifespan, specific genes are turned on and off, in order to make the right proteins at the right time (Harvard Medical School, 2009). However, sometimes genes do not always do their specific job, resulting in an unstable mood. In order to fix this, scientist are hoping to target specific genes that trigger unstable moods.

 

How Depression Affects Sexuality

Sexual dysfunction is a very common side effect/symptom of depression. It curbs sex drive, but sex is important to boost your mood and to keep relationships healthy and stable (Woznicki, 2015). http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/depression-and-sex

The brain is the body’s most sensitive sex organ, meaning sexual desire starts there and works its way down (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). The chemicals in the brain, neurotransmitters, create blood flow to the sex organs, which stimulate sexual desires. When a person suffers from depression the chemicals in their brains are out of balance, which results in a dull sense for pleasurable feelings. Decreased libido is most often reported, but difficulties with arousal, resulting in vaginal dryness in women and erectile dysfunction in men, and absent or delayed orgasm are also prevalent (Kennedy&Rizvi, 2009). http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19512977

Sexual dysfunction is an adverse effect of treatment with most antidepressants that physicians prescribe to people who are suffering from depression. Certain serotonin reuptake inhibitors are the most widely prescribed antidepressants and have severe effects on arousal and orgasm compared to other types of antidepressants (Kennedy&Rizvi, 2009). Some antidepressants make it difficult for a man to have an erection, and for men and female, initiate sex becomes less desired as well as the drive to participate fully or enjoy sex (Cleveland Clinic, 2014). Self-confidence issues may result as an underlying issue from the lack of sexual desire being given from a partner, which can cause emotional and physical damage to the relationship. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/neurological_institute/center-for-behavorial-health/disease-conditions/hic-sexual-problems-depression

www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA8Sch-dWNg

Patient/Family Teaching

Depression is a very hard mental illness for both the patient as well as their family to comprehend. It is important that they learn about the illness and try to make the best possible outcomes dealing with the disease. One of the most important aspects of dealing with depression is making sure that you are vocal about how you are feeling. There are many misconceptions with the word depression that have many people too embarrassed to discuss about it at all. View the link below to view the Impact brochure and their ways of educating people about depression (Impact, 2012). http://impact-uw.org/tools/patient_edu.html

As a patient struggling with depression, it is essential to get treatment as fast as possible or else it can cause more damage to you later in life. Don’t isolate yourselves from friends and family and try to be active on a daily basis. It is extremely important to continue to educate yourself about depression on this journey of combatting the illness and if you don’t understand an aspect of it, ask a friend of physician.(National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), 2015) The more you know about depression, the faster you can be on the road to recovery.

Family members can provide this support by first understanding the disease. They should provide emotional support, offer hope, listen, and most importantly not dismiss comments that suggest dangerous behavior. As a family member,you should encourage your loved one to do activities and get outside, maybe even start a hobby together. Going to doctors’ appointments with your loved ones and encouraging them throughout their treatment is also something you can do as a family member (NIMH, 2015). This site also suggests ways that you can help yourself with your depression. You can get out of the house and be active; it may be helpful to do tasks in small chunks instead of leaving it all for one big task. It is important to remember that it takes time to relieve depression and its symptoms; it is not going to happen overnight. You need to keep yourself positive and try to leave all those negative thoughts behind. It is also critical to be educated on depression so that you can know if your depression is worsening (NIMH, 2015). http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml

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Patient/Family Support

Getting support for depression is very critical to dealing with the illness, at times one can feel very lonely and anxious. It is important to know that there are other people out there with the same illness as you (American and Depression Association of America (ADAA, 2015). The American and Depression Association of America (ADAA), is a great resource that can help people with depression to find support groups within their area. This website allows you to place in your area code and lists all the available support groups in your location. The article, Is Group Psychotherapy Effective in Older Adults with Depression? A Systematic Review, suggests that patients, especially elderly patients, who participate in group psychotherapy sessions have better outcomes as compared to individual. The group therapy allows the patients to really relate to one another. It decreases the feeling of isolation that comes with depression and allows one another to provide extra support (Krishna, et al.,2010). http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression

It is really crucial to find that connection with other people who are suffering from the same illness. With depression it can also be beneficial to talk one on one with a professional. Doctors and nurses can provide you with referrals to a great therapist for you in your area (The New York Times, 2013). You can also find a therapist through sources like the ADAA. http://www.nytimes.com/health/guides/disease/major-depression/treatment.html

With our new era of technology and internet use there is a whole new community of support that patients with chronic depression can look into. The article, The Effectiveness of an Online Support Group for Members of the Community with Depression: A Randomized Controlled Trial, states that about 28% of the people in the US access online support groups for their depression (Griffiths, et al., 2012). In a double blind randomized trial, volunteers with known depression, took part in a 12 week study. The individuals were randomly given one of three interventions; one of the interventions included a trial of an internet support group (ISG). As part of this intervention the participants were to read posts from others suffering from depression and write their own posts. The participants were followed up directly at the end of the trial and at 6-12 months after. The end data proved that internet support groups (ISG) do have an effect on depression and that through this online support people had reduced symptoms (Griffiths, et al. 2012). Having these resources through the internet can be really helpful, especially for elderly people who may have trouble getting to support groups. http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0053244#pone-0053244-g001

It is very critical that patients who suffer from chronic depression have the support through their family. A study conducted by Makilim Baptista, Adriana Carneiro, and Hugo Cardoso concluded that for people with major depression with family support, dealt and coped much better with their depression than those who did not have that support (Baptista, Carneiro, & Cardoso, 2014). The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) is also a great website to access for individuals dealing with depression and for their family members as well. It provides the signs and symptoms of depression, treatment options, who’s at risk, and how to live with depression. It also provides ways that family members can help and support their loved ones. http://eds.b.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=1&sid=c148fe4a-f994-414f-a7ba-2cdcc41d6221%40sessionmgr115&hid=119&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwLGNvb2tpZSx1cmwsY3BpZCx1aWQmY3VzdGlkPXM4ODYzMTM3JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=a9h&AN=101060850

 Check out more information here!

http://www.adaa.org/understanding-anxiety/depression

http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/depression/index.shtml