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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 11 th 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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Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression is caused by changes in hormones and can run in families. Women with severe premenstrual syndrome are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression. Mild or moderate depression, either postpartum or otherwise, can be treated with medication or with psychotherapy, or, particularly for women with severe cases, a combination of the two. Women who have postpartum depression love their children but may be convinced that they're not able to be good mothers.
Postpartum depression is distinguished from the baby blues both by its duration and the debilitating effects of indifference the mother has about herself and her children.
Baby Blues Many women experience baby blues – an extremely common reaction following delivery – it usually appears suddenly on the third or fourth day. It’s estimated that up to 70% of all new mothers experience this emotional letdown, which generally does not impair functioning. Symptoms usually include crying for no reason, irritability, restlessness and anxiety. These are common and frequently less severe postpartum reactions.
Postpartum Depression About one in 10 new mothers experience some degree of postpartum depression. These complications usually occur within just days after the delivery, and can occur even a year later. These symptoms include:
* Sluggishness * Fatigue * Exhaustion * Feelings of hopelessness or depression * Disturbances with appetite and sleep * Confusion * Uncontrollable crying * Lack of interest in the baby * Fear of harming the baby or oneself * Mood swings – highs and lows
At Risk A past history of non-postpartum mood disorder and a family history of mood disorder increases the risk of postpartum depression.
* A woman experiencing postpartum depression usually has several of these mild to severe symptoms – the symptoms and their severity may alternate. Usually the woman experiencing these symptoms feels isolated, guilty and ashamed.· * Postpartum-onset mood episodes can present with or without psychotic features. Infanticide is most often associated with postpartum psychotic episodes that are characterized by command hallucinations to kill the infant, but it can also occur in severe postpartum mood episodes without such specific delusions or hallucinations. * The risk of postpartum episodes with psychotic features is particularly increased for women with prior postpartum mood episodes, but elevated for those with a history of mood disorders. Once a woman has a postpartum episode with psychotic features, the risk of recurrence is 30-50% with each delivery. * There is a subset of women who experience postpartum psychotic episodes that may include infanticide. This is characterized by hallucinations by the new mother to kill the infant, or delusions that the infant might be possessed.
Postpartum Anxiety or Panic Disorder There are some women who, after giving birth, have intense anxiety or irrational fears. They may have symptoms such as rapid heart rate, sense of impending doom and dizziness. There is also another subset of women that experience OCD after birth. They may have repetitive thoughts, including harming the baby. They may avoid the baby to alleviate these thoughts, and they may feel anxious.
Researchers have suggested that rapid changes in hormone levels such as estrogen, progesterone and thyroid have a strong effect on moods.
Treatment for postpartum depression Women need to be taken seriously when these symptoms occur. Generally a combination of psychotherapy and medication can reduce these symptoms. The ideal treatment plan includes:
* Medical evaluation to rule out physiological problems * Psychiatric evaluation * Psychotherapy * Possible medication * Support group
It is imperative that women being treated for postpartum depression continue with treatment even after they feel better, because if they stop the treatment prematurely, symptoms can recur.
Psychosis of Postpartum Depression Postpartum-onset mood episodes can occur with or without psychotic features. Infanticide is most often associated with postpartum psychotic episodes characterized by command hallucinations to kill the infant, or delusions that the infant is possessed. But it can also occur in severe postpartum mood episodes without such specific delusions or hallucinations.
Postpartum mood episodes with psychotic features appear to occur in from 1 in 500 to 1 in 1,000 deliveries.
Postpartum depression can evolve into psychosis following a dramatic or traumatic event.
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Fact Sheets Terrorist alert Anxiety Confidentiality Coping with AIDS & HIV Funerals & Memorials Gay, Lesbian & Bi Issues Insanity Defense FAQ Managed Care Media Violence Patients Bill of Rights Postpartum Depression Psychiatric Hospitalization Storm Disasters
Let's Talk Facts Brochures: Anxiety Disorders Bipolar Disorder Choosing a Psychiatrist Common Childhood Disorders Depression Domestic Violence Eating Disorders Phobias Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Teen Suicide What is Mental Illness? coming soon: College Students and Alcohol Abuse Coping with HIV and AIDS Mental Health of the Elderly Obsessive-Compulive Disorder Seasonal Affective Disorder
SOURCE:- www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus All information on HealthyMinds.org is © of the American Psychiatric Association The information contained on the HealthyMinds.org Web site is not intended as, and is not, a substitute for professional medical advice. All decisions about clinical care should be made in consultation with your treating physician.
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Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
Mental illness affects one in seventeen Americans. However, in this country alone, funding for mental health facilities is dropping drastically and the care for the mentally disabled. When the people who need those facilities have no where to go, they end up overcrowding emergency rooms. Depression Forums would like to hear from you!
We would like to invite you to PM Forum Admin to share your story about your Depression or Mental Health issues 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.There is nothing better than to speak out, tell your story get the word out! Together, we can help ourselves and others. Your stories would appear right here on DF's Portal. Please PM Forum Admin for more information or to submit your story. Sincerely, The Depression Forums Administration Staff
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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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