Depression Common Disorder - Essay Example

Common Depression Disorders Common Depression Disorders Brief History of the Disorders According to Davidson (2002), “Depression is a disorder of the representation and regulation of mood and emotion” (p. 545). For a long time, there was no true diagnosis for such disorders and many did not realize what was wrong with the feeling and emotions they were experiencing inside. We had no real knowledge of what made us act in certain ways when we were depressed, and how to treat those feelings and emotions so that we could return to some sense of normalcy.

Psychology has come a long way since then and we now have numerous common depression disorders that can be diagnosed and treated with relative ease. The key is intervention, sound clinical advice, treatment regimes, and continual follow-up and evaluation (Hensley & Clayton, 2008, p. 45). Symptoms There are many symptoms that might indicate an individual is experiencing common clinical depression. Depending on the age and maturity of the individual, a person might be shown to lose interest in normal activities that they normal enjoy.

They might become more irritable and more easily angered than before, or they could become indecisive and lose their concentration. In addition, a normally active person could suddenly become fatigued or lose energy quickly, even when performing normal everyday tasks or activities. Healthy adults may lose their sex drive, or they could develop insomnia or, on the other hand, begin sleeping excessively. Some may prefer to stay in bed all day, in a darkened room rather than go outside. To the extreme, individuals might begin thinking frequently about thoughts of death, dying, or suicide.

There are numerous other symptoms to consider as well, but the key thing to remember is that these are ongoing occurrences. For example, a person that is sad for a few days might not be considered clinically depressed. If, however, the behavior is constant and has no end in sight, then psychiatric help should certainly be considered (Fava, 2002, pp. 1050-1052).Prevalence It should be noted that, “Major depressive disorder is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States” (Kessler, 2005, p. 594). Statistics point out that women are 70% more likely to have depressive episodes during their lifetime.

In the United States, estimates are that 6.7% of the population has a common episode of depression every 12 months and that non-Hispanic blacks are 40% less likely than non-Hispanic white to become depressed at some point during their lifetime. Finally, the average age at which someone becomes clinically depressed in the United States is at 32 years of age (Kessler, 2005, pp. 596-597).Treatment There are many different treatment options afforded to someone suffering from a common depression disorder.

Naturally it depends on the case, the symptoms, and the severity of what is being presented and manifested in the patient. For most people, medication and/or psychological counseling are the preferred method of treatment. There are times when a person’s primary care doctor can prescribe medication if the symptoms are that obvious. In many cases, however, the patient will be referred to a psychiatrist who specializes in mental health conditions (Fava, 2002, p. 1051). A psychologist can treat many signs of depression.

Counseling is effective because it allows patients to talk through their problems in a safe and confidential environment. It might be possible that a combination of counseling and medication is in order. No matter what treatment is decided upon, however, follow-up is key. Anytime that antidepressant medications are prescribed, they alter the brain chemicals in the brain, and this is designed to change one’s mood Fava, 2002, p. 1053). As such, the patient needs to be monitored and seen on a regular basis in order to determine the effectiveness of the medication.

For some, they can come off the medication after a time, while others may be on it for life. Treating a common depression disorder effectively can afford the individual an opportunity to return to a healthy and normal lifestyle. ReferencesFava, M. (2002). Personality disorders and depression. Psychological Medicine, 32(6), 1049-1057.Hensley, P., & Clayton, P. (2008). Bereavement-related depression: Treatment implications. Psychiatric Times, 25(8), 45. Kessler, R. (2005). Lifetime prevalence and age-of-onset distributions of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication.

Archives of General Psychiatry, 62(6), 593-602.