Diagnosing major depression disorder follows a series of a simple step where five out of the nine symptoms are required; here are as it follows:
- Depressed mood most of the day, nearly everyday, indicated by either subjective report, or observation made by others.
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly everyday.
- Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gain (i.e.: change of ±5% in one month), or decrease or increase in appetite nearly everyday.
- Insomnia or hypersomnia nearly everyday.
- Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly everyday.
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly everyday.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly everyday.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate, or indecisiveness, nearly everyday.
- Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dying), recurrent suicidal ideation without a specific plan, or a suicide attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
While there are numerous treatments for mental illnesses, the variety of the major depressive disorder renders one cure useless. There are varieties of cases with its individual and unique problems. It may not necessarily be just a neural imbalance as it is described as; it may even require psychotherapy. Treatments vary from medicinal treatment as well as psychotherapy. A study was conducted with a variety of treatments with results varying from good (50-74% improvement) to fair (25-49% improvement) to poor (0-24% improvement); here is a list of treatments:
- Antidepressant medication – good
- Electroconvulsive therapy – good
- Lithium (for prevention) – good
- Anticonvulsant medication (for prevention) – good
- Interpersonal psychotherapy – fair
- Antianxiety medication – poor
- Cognitive therapy – poor
These results show the performance of different treatments that involve medication and psychotherapy with both a good share of effectiveness. It is apparent that the spectrum of treatment is very broad and it is unmistakably variant from patient to patient. While psychotherapy is good, statistics show somewhat of a general improvement in direct medication.
It can be opinionated that Major Depressive Disorder is an illness created by nurture as shown by research on general stress, traumatic experiences, and parental failures. Recent studies have shown that stress is the leading factor in the creation of depression. In the “Pain of Depression Can Be Treated” article it was said, “It appears that major depression often requires stress to ‘get the ball rolling.’” This show how when a person is going through stress and the stress elevates past the terminus of the person’s mental capability, then major depression disorder is triggered and the episodes begin, hence proving that it is because of a person’s environment and experiences that result in clinical depression. Sudden trauma or past experiences may also prompt depression. A person enjoying a happy relationship may go into severe depression if the relation ends abruptly or anything else that will result in “heartbreak.” Trauma or heartbreak is clearly a nurturing experience as it is caused by a person who was put in a severe position in which it results in a sudden change in life that creates the chemical imbalance in the brain. When a parent fails to raise his or her child properly, it may have acute results in the mental stock for the future of the child. The case study involving the Grade 11 student who has suffered neglect from his mother immediately after birth for three distressful weeks caused his eighteen-year series of mental illnesses with major depressive disorder being the most prominent. This example of a case study illustrates a perfect example of nurture-caused major depressive disorder as his mother was substance abusive and clearly neglected him after birth. It can be concluded that it is due to several aspects of life like anxiety, disturbing experiences in life and a poor upbringing in parenting that allows this illness to prevail and succeed due its nurturing qualities.
Major depressive disorder is a horrific disease that affects one’s well being mentally, which directly affects the physical well being. This disease is a leading cause of suicide and the most unpleasant disease in the Western World. This illness should not happen to anyone nor should it be allowed to continue. The spectrum of depression is extremely variable and it is a tough one to fight as it is created by everyday life that people regularly have to face. People would rather die than suffer this illness again when everything seems wrong and the person’s presence in the world is felt useless. No one should have to endure this and one can only hope that faster and more specific cures are found to cease the existence of this illness. Unfortunately, this illness cannot be ceased; it is created through everyday life and this must be acquired through strict psychological research parallel to world renowned diseases such as AIDs and Cancer. This is not pleasant, this should not continue.
BY: Tahmid Zaman
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Bibliography
Dr. Franklin, Donald J. "Major Depression." Psychology Information Online. 2006. Psychology Information Online. 20 Dec. 2006 <http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression/major.htm>.
Long, Phillip W., MD. "Major Depressive Disorder." Internet Mental Health. 9 Feb. 1998. Internet Mental Health. 19 Dec. 2006 <http://www.mentalhealth.com/rx/p23-md01.html>.
Crowel, Judith, MD. and Steven Klotz, Dr.. "Successful SSRI Therapy in a Male Adolescent." Psychiatry Source. Compiler: Psychiatry Source. 2006. Psychiatry Source. 19 Dec. 2006 <http://www.psychiatrysource.com/35897_36116_0_0_0.aspx?mid=>.
