Depression
is a disturbance in mood characterized by varying degrees of sadness,
disappointment, loneliness, hopelessness, self-doubt, and guilt.
These feelings can be quite intense and may persist long periods
of time. Daily activities may become more difficult, but the individual
may still be able to cope with them. It is at this level, however,
that feelings of hopelessness can become so intense.
Depression
(Mood) Disorders have been divided into unipolar and bipolar.
The bipolar type is manifested by mania or by both mania and depression.
On the other hand, unipolar depression are manifested only by
depression. Main symptoms of unipolar are:
Extreme Lethargy.
Disturbed
sleep, early waking, difficulty getting to sleep and waking up
tired after a normal night of sleep.
Permanent
sense of anxiety.
Sensation of utter despair, hopelessness or uselessness of everything.
Irritability and physical exhaustion.
The disturbance is not due to the direct physiological effects
of a substance (e.g., a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general
medical condition.
Associated
Features:
Lack of
concentration.
Lack of sexual drive.
Irrational fears such as fear of death, thoughts of suicide,
or fear of committing suicide.
Differential
Diagnosis:
Some disorders have similar symptoms. The clinician, therefore,
in his diagnostic attempt, has to differentiate against the following
disorders which need to be ruled out to establish a precise diagnosis.
Sleep
Disorder.
Phobia.
Sexual
Problems.
Obsessional
Behavior.
Dementia.
Anxiety
or Stress Disorder.
Malingering.
Cause:
The cause
of depression are likely to be different for different people.
Sometimes a depressive episode can appear to come out of nowhere
at a time when everything seems to be going fine. Other times,
depression may be directly related to a significant event in our
lives such as losing a loved one, experiencing trauma, or battling
a chronic illness. Other caused may involve:
Pre-menstrual
and postnatal hormone changes.
Hormone deficiencies.
Alcoholism.
Drug dependency.
Treatment:
There are a number of Mood
Disorder sub-types refer to appropriate disorder:
Bipolar
Disorder
Dysthymic Disorder
Major Depression
