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on: Wednesday, 07 January 2009 04:16
on: Wednesday, 07 January 2009 03:24
on: Wednesday, 07 January 2009 02:58
on: Wednesday, 07 January 2009 01:57
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QUOTE (thedarknesswithin89 @ Nov 16 2008, 11:58 AM) * I never thought I'd find a discussion board where I could say anything without fear of being critisized or made fun of.
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Depression & Mental Health FAQs
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated 40 million
Americans living today will suffer from major depressive illness during their lives.

Seasonal affective disorder is major depression that appears in the fall or winter and goes away in spring, thought to be caused by lack of sunlight.



Postpartum depression occurs within four weeks of a women giving childbirth. Most new mothers suffer from some form of the �baby blues.� Postpartum depression, by contrast, is major depression, thought to be triggered by changes in hormonal flows associated with childbirth.

Catatonic depression is a rare form of major depression characterized by (at least two): Stupor, excessive motor activity, extreme negativism, peculiarities in voluntary movement, and repetition of other people's words or actions. - mcmanweb.com



Psychotic depression is a rare form of depression characterized by delusions or hallucinations, such as believing you are someone you are not and hearing voices.


According to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 18.8 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the US population age 18 and older in a given year, have a depressive disorder.
Depression is a chronic illness that exacts a significant toll on America's health and productivity.  It affects more than 21 million American children and adults annually and is the leading cause of disability in the United States for individuals ages 15 to 44.


Lost productive time among U.S. workers due to depression is estimated to be in excess of $31 billion per year.  Depression frequently co-occurs with a variety of medical illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, and chronic pain and is associated with poorer health status and prognosis.  It is also the principal cause of the 30,000 suicides in the U.S. each year.  In 2004, suicide was the 11th leading cause of death in the United States, third among individuals 15-24.


According to the World Health Organization, depression is presently on track to becoming the world's second-most disabling disease (after heart disease) by the year 2020.

Depression is responsible for some $87 billion a year in lost productivity in the US (a conservative estimate), and according to Bank One, is responsible for most lost work days in its employees after pregnancy and childbirth.

Additionally, one million people worldwide die by their own hand, most as a result of a mood disorder. Finally, the linkage between depression and a host of physical illnesses makes it arguably the world's greatest killer.

Research presented at the 56th Annual Conference of the Canadian Psychiatric Association shows a marked link between bipolar disorder and migraines.

The odds of migraine in persons with bipolar disorder were 40% higher than the general population.

Data obtained from 36,984 people aged 15 and over, who screened positive for manic or depressive episodes with migraine, were compared against those who screened positive for mania but who didn�t suffer from migraines.

Amongst males, 14.9% of those with manic episodes were also diagnosed with migraines compared with 5.8% of the general population. Amongst females, 34.7% had both migraines and bipolar disorder compared with 14.7% who only had migraines.unquote.gif

While the research was skewed towards persons who were already diagnosed with bipolar disorders, what does it mean for people who suffer from migraines but who may have an undiagnosed bipolar disorder?



Migraines and headaches aren�t fully understood but the manifestations are very real and debilitating for their sufferers:

Throbbing pain
Nausea
Heightened sensitivity to light or sound
Seeing dots, wavy lines, flashing lights, or blind spots
Difficulty with speech, sensation, or movement

 


An estimated 2.1 million American adolescents have experienced major depression within the last year, according to a new comprehensive government study.  Researchers surveyed more than 67,000 young people ages 12 to 17 and found that one in 12 had suffered from serious depression in the previous year.Nearly 13 percent of girls had struggled with depression, compared to less than 5 percent of boys. Odds of depression increased with age -- just 4 percent of 12-year-olds experienced depression but that climbed to 11 percent for older teens.

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Is Psychological Disorders caused by Anxiety Sensitvity?

By Forum Admin

Anxiety Sensitivity Linked To Future Psychological Disorders

ScienceDaily (Nov. 11, 2006) — People who get scared when they experience a pounding heart, sweaty palms or dizziness -- even if the cause is something as mundane as stress, exercise or caffeine -- are more likely to develop a clinical case of anxiety or panic disorder, according to a Florida State University researcher in Tallahassee, Fla.


While other researchers have proposed a connection between this so-called "anxiety sensitivity" and a range of anxiety problems, the study by FSU psychology professors N. Brad Schmidt and Jon Maner and University of Vermont Professor Michael Zvolensky provides the first evidence that anxiety sensitivity is a risk factor in the development of anxiety disorders. The study will be published in the December issue of the Journal of Psychiatric Research.

"The findings offer an exciting possibility for prevention of anxiety and panic reactions among high-risk individuals," Schmidt said, explaining that the key is to teach people cognitive and behavioral skills to reduce their anxiety sensitivity so that it does not lead to a serious problem.

People with anxiety sensitivity perceive their physical responses to certain triggers as a sign of imminent personal harm. They not only fear their reactions, they also fear that other people will detect their anxiety, which only serves to increase their anxiety and puts them at risk for a panic attack, according to Schmidt.

While a single panic attack does not indicate development of a psychological disorder -- in fact, some estimates indicate that about 20 percent of people will experience a spontaneous panic attack at some point in their lives -- repeated occurrences do, he said.

"When people start having repeated panic attacks, plus a lot of what we call panic-related worry -- they worry when the next attack will occur and they start avoiding things due to worry -- this is when someone has panic disorder," Schmidt said.

People with panic disorder suffer attacks of intense feelings of terror that strike suddenly with no warning. Some sufferers have a feeling of being out of control or even on the verge of death. They soon develop a "fear of fear" and may begin to restrict their activities in an attempt to prevent more attacks.

The study followed 404 young adults over a two-year period as part of an anxiety prevention study. After completing interviews and a battery of self-report measures, including the Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI), eligible participants then were randomly assigned to either a treatment or control group.

The researchers found that those who scored high on the ASI during the initial assessment -- whether they were assigned to the prevention or the control group -- were nearly twice as likely to have suffered spontaneous panic attacks and to have been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder by the time of the follow-up two years later.

The project was supported by grants from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Ohio Department of Mental Health and the National Institute on Drug Abuse.


Adapted from materials provided by Florida State University.

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Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
Depression Forums would like to hear from you!

Mental illness affects one in seventeen Americans.
We would like to invite you to share your story about your Depression, as breaking the silence will help us to break open the stigma surrounding mental health that keeps people from getting the care that continues misunderstandings about those affected by mental health disorders.

Stories with a positive outlook are most welcome.
There is nothing better than to speak out, tell your story and get the word out! 

There is hope!
Together, we can help ourselves and others.

Please PM Forum Admin for more information to submit your story.
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Medical News
Depression News From Medical News Today
Latest Depression News From Medical News Today.

News From The Journal Of Neuroscience, 6-Jan-2009
1. Exocytosis Can Form Stable Membrane Deposits in Neurons Joris de Wit, Ruud F. Toonen, and Matthijs Verhage. Neurons secrete neuropeptides, neurotrophic factors, guidance molecules, and proteases via secretory dense-core vesicles. Although secretion of such molecules has been extensively studied in neuroendocrine cells, relatively little is known about release of these molecules by neurons. To remedy this, de Wit et al.

Using Chronic Care Model Helps To Improve People's Health And Care
Ed Wagner, MD, MPH, knew there had to be a better way. He and Group Health colleagues set out 15 years ago to explore how best to engage patients with chronic diseases in effective care. With Robert Wood Johnson Foundation support, they developed the Chronic Care Model. More than 1,500 U.S. and international medical practices have adopted the Model. Now the largest roundup of evidence on how the Model performs in practice confirms that it works.




ADHD News From Medical News Today
Latest ADHD News From Medical News Today.

Child's ADHD Diagnosis Is Tied To Mother's Health Status
The probability of having one's child receive an attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis involves a mother's own medical conditions and her use of health services prior to having the child, a new study finds. What is not clear, however, is whether the effects are due to biological, environmental or psychosocial factors - or some combination of these.

Transcendental Meditation Reduces ADHD Symptoms Among Students: New Study
The Transcendental Meditation technique may be an effective and safe non-pharmaceutical aid for treating ADHD, according to a promising new study published this month in the peer-reviewed online journal Current Issues in Education. The pilot study followed a group of middle school students with ADHD who were meditating twice a day in school.




Anxiety / Stress News From Medical News Today
Latest Anxiety / Stress News From Medical News Today.

Childhood Trauma May Be Risk Factor For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome is more likely to be developed in individuals who experience trauma in childhood, according to an article released on January 5, 2008 in the Archives of General Psychiatry, one of the JAMA/Archives journals. This may be in conjunction with a suggested biological pathway, involving neuroendocrine dysfunctions associated with the early trauma in chronic fatigue syndrome patients.

Childhood Trauma And Risk For Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Connected By Biological Link
Childhood trauma is a potent risk factor for development of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), according to a study by researchers at Emory University School of Medicine and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study is published in the Jan. 5, 2009Archives of General Psychiatry. Results of the study confirm that childhood trauma, particularly emotional maltreatment and sexual abuse, is associated with a six-fold increased risk for CFS.




Bipolar News From Medical News Today
Latest Bipolar News From Medical News Today.

Missing In Action: 'Where Is The New National Mental Health Plan?' Asks SANE Australia
Australians affected by mental illness are worried by repeated delays in producing a new National Mental Health Plan - SANE Australia calls for prompt action by the Rudd Government and COAG. 2008 is drawing to a close and the Rudd Government is now in its second year in office, yet there is still no new national plan for mental health services, despite widespread acceptance of the urgent need.

Janssen-Cilag International N.V. Withdraws Its Application For An Extension Of Indication For Invega (paliperidone)
The European Medicines Agency (EMEA) has been formally notified by Janssen-Cilag International N.V. of its decision to withdraw its application for an extension of indication for the centrally authorized medicine Invega (paliperidone) prolonged-release tablets. Invega was expected to be used for the treatment of acute manic episodes associated with bipolar I disorder. Invega was first authorised in the European Union on 25 June 2007.




Mental Health News From Medical News Today
Latest Mental Health News From Medical News Today.

Action Needed To Reduce Child Homicide, Australia
Taking advantage of opportunities for early intervention in families that come into contact with health workers, welfare agencies and the police may help reduce the rate of child homicide in Australia, according to a study in the latest edition of the Medical Journal of Australia.

NIDA Releases A New Research Report On Comorbidity Of Addiction And Other Mental Illnesses
The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health, released a research report, Comorbidity: Addiction and Other Mental Illnesses,summarizing the state of the science regarding the complex relationship between substance abuse and other mental disorders.




Psychology / Psychiatry News From Medical News Today
Latest Psychology / Psychiatry News From Medical News Today.

News From The Journal Of Neuroscience, 6-Jan-2009
1. Exocytosis Can Form Stable Membrane Deposits in Neurons Joris de Wit, Ruud F. Toonen, and Matthijs Verhage. Neurons secrete neuropeptides, neurotrophic factors, guidance molecules, and proteases via secretory dense-core vesicles. Although secretion of such molecules has been extensively studied in neuroendocrine cells, relatively little is known about release of these molecules by neurons. To remedy this, de Wit et al.

Oxytocin Improves Human Ability To Recognize Faces
Oxytocin, a hormone involved in child-birth and breast-feeding, helps people recognize familiar faces, according to new research in the January 7 issue of The Journal of Neuroscience. Study participants who had one dose of an oxytocin nasal spray showed improved recognition memory for faces, but not for inanimate objects.




Schizophrenia News From Medical News Today
Latest Schizophrenia News From Medical News Today.

1 In 4 Australian Children Have A Parent With A Mental Illness
Almost a quarter of Australian children are living with a parent who has a mental illness, according to new research published in the January issue of the Psychiatric Bulletin. Of these, just over 1 % (or approximately 60,000 children) have a parent who has a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, manic depression or clinical depression.

Missing In Action: 'Where Is The New National Mental Health Plan?' Asks SANE Australia
Australians affected by mental illness are worried by repeated delays in producing a new National Mental Health Plan - SANE Australia calls for prompt action by the Rudd Government and COAG. 2008 is drawing to a close and the Rudd Government is now in its second year in office, yet there is still no new national plan for mental health services, despite widespread acceptance of the urgent need.




Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia News From Medical News Today
Latest Sleep / Sleep Disorders / Insomnia News From Medical News Today.

Factors Other Than Central Sleep Apnea May Contribute To Poor Sleep Quality In Heart-Failure Patients
A study in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Sleep demonstrates that the frequent arousals from sleep that occur in heart failure patients with central sleep apnea (CSA) may reflect the presence of another underlying arousal disorder rather than being a defensive mechanism to terminate apneas.

The High Societal, Economic Burden Of Insomnia Shown By Study
A study in the Jan. 1 issue of the journal Sleep indicates that the indirect costs of untreated insomnia are significantly greater than the direct costs associated with its treatment. The study estimates that the total annual cost of insomnia in the province of Quebec is 6.5 billion Canadian dollars, representing about one percent of the province's $228.5 billion in gross domestic product for 2002.




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Depression & Mental Health FAQs 2
What is Clinical Depression?

Clinical depression can affect your body, mood, thoughts, and behavior. It can change your eating habits, how you feel and think about things, your ability to work and study, and how you interact with people.

Clinical depression is not a passing mood, a sign of personal weakness or a condition that can be willed away. Clinically depressed people cannot "pull themselves together" and get better.

Depression can be successfully treated by a mental health professional or certain health care providers. With the right treatment, 80 percent of those who seek help get better. And many people begin to feel better in just a few weeks.

Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health
World Health Organization Finds Depression Often Goes Untreated
By Salynn Boyles
WebMD Medical News
Reviewed by Louise Chang, MD

Sept. 6, 2007 -- Depression has a greater impact on overall health than arthritis, diabetes, angina, and asthma, but it all too often goes unrecognized and untreated, a report from the World Health Organization (WHO) suggests.
more...Depression a Big Factor in Poor Health

For Additional Information About Depression Write To:
The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH)
6001 Executive Boulevard, Room 8184, MSC 9663
Bethesda, MD 20892-9663
 

For free brochures on depression and its treatment call:  1-800-421-4211.
or visit: http://www.nimh.nih.gov
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