|
Log in
Donate To Depression Forums
Latest Forum Discussions
on: Friday, 10 October 2008 15:45
on: Friday, 10 October 2008 13:54
on: Friday, 10 October 2008 11:50
on: Friday, 10 October 2008 11:42
on: Friday, 10 October 2008 11:41
Search
Member Testimonials
"You have no idea what this means to me.Yes, I may be having a difficult time at home, but knowing that at least one person is thinking about how I'm doing is so great. So thankyou, Erin, so much." (-Helpless_broken)
HOPELINE 1-800-SUICIDE
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.
Our DF Members
|
|
Anxiety and aging
January 21, 2008 11:06 AM EST
Recently
I had coffee with a friend who is worried about her 86-year-old mother,
who lives in the Midwest. "Lately it seems like she's worried about
everything," my friend told me. "She never used to be this way. Do you
think she has an anxiety disorder?"
It's possible. Anxiety
disorders are the most common mental health disorders among older
adults. Approximately 11% of people ages 55 and over suffer from some
type of anxiety disorder. Although most anxiety disorders start in
early adulthood, they tend to last well into the later years. In
addition to enduring anxiety disorders from their youth, older adults
become increasingly susceptible to anxiety caused by illness or a
medication. That's because both illness and the need for medication
become more common with age. Yet anxiety in older adults has
received relatively little scientific attention. Most of what's known
comes from studies of young and middle-aged adults, but the findings on
anxiety medications don't all hold true for older people. Age-related
changes in the absorption and metabolism of drugs tend to make drugs
linger longer in the body, increasing the risk for harmful effects even
at doses considered safe for younger people. In addition, older adults
are more likely to be taking multiple medications for a variety of
conditions, some of which may interact with anxiety medications. Because
of these medical realities and the greater risks to health, doctors
often prescribe anti-anxiety drugs in lower doses or they recommend
different therapies. Drugs known as benzodiazepines are used sparingly
because some effects, such as sedation and impaired cognition, can be
exaggerated. If benzodiazepines are used, the best choices are
short-acting versions, such as lorazepam (Ativan), oxazepam (Serax), or
temazepam (Restoril). These don't linger in the body as long as
long-acting ones such as diazepam (Valium), clonazepam (Klonopin), or
chlordiazepoxide (Librium). In general, short-acting drugs cause less
sedation and cognitive impairment, making them safer for people who
need to drive. An alternative, and a better choice for some
individuals, is buspirone. It doesn't cause sedation or cognitive
impairment, and its pattern of drug interactions may be favorable
depending on the other medications on a person's prescription list.
However, research on buspirone has been disappointing, with a number of
studies finding it less effective than benzodiazepines in treating
anxiety. And buspirone carries two other drawbacks: It takes several
weeks to take effect, and it does not improve insomnia, a frequent
complaint among older people with anxiety. A third medication
alternative is to try an antidepressant. Antidepressants are effective
for many anxiety disorders, and may also help if depression is part of
the picture. Like buspirone, they can take several weeks to work. Also,
as with any medication, adverse effects and drug interactions need to
be considered. Preliminary studies have found that cognitive
behavioral therapy is effective for older individuals with two types of
anxiety disorders: panic disorder and social phobia. When used along
with medication, cognitive-behavioral therapy may reduce the amount of
time the drug is needed. For older people who can't tolerate
anti-anxiety medications, this form of therapy can be used by itself. I
shared some of this information with my friend. But I also offered to
refer her mother to one of my colleagues in the Midwest. Only a formal
evaluation will reveal whether her mother is really suffering from an
anxiety disorder, and then provide information about how best to treat
it. Are you, or someone you know, older than 55 and suffering from an anxiety disorder? How is it being treated? Dr. Michael Miller has
been on staff of the Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a large
teaching hospital in Boston, for more than 25 years. He is also an
Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School. Anxiety and Phobias Anxiety
disorders-which include panic attacks, post-traumatic stress disorder,
obsessive-compulsive disorder, and phobias-are among the most common
mental illnesses, affecting about 23 million American adults.
Thankfully, never before have there been so many therapies to help
control anxiety.
is a special report from Harvard Medical School that provides
up-to-date information on these treatments, as well as information on
the many types of anxiety disorders, their symptoms, causes, and
getting a proper diagnosis. Source:
© 2008 by Michael C. Miller, M.D., Harvard Medical School
|
|
 |
|
 |
Comments 
|
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 the 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
This Month In Pictures
Members Online
174 Users Online: 154 Guests 1 Anonymous 19 Visible: Sande, Virgo831, Bowtech, kittykat721, howdyhow, mightymouse82, DaBigD, curler1, Lindsey22, sploshie, heatherdn, Chenderson, vicky1409, tisLame, MoonLyte, justbeingme, Noca, TheMelodyOfRain, amazinggrace, |
Medical News
Andertoon
A Potpourri of Mental Health Articles
Mental Health Parity News
Suicide Prevention Llifeline
Amazon Books
Our Soldiers & Veterans
edclogo
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
Link To Us
Please use the image below and the code provided to link back to us
Advertisement
Att: Mental Health Professionals
Take advantage of
this excellent opportunity
to promote your practice, research, career
and
expertise.
Depression Forums, Incorporated is now starting a
Therapists Directory so that we will offer to our members
access to a searchable database of Mental Health
Professionals and facilities Nationwide dedicated to
providing treatment services and support for
those with mental health disorders.
List your individual or group practice in
Depressionforums.org's
Therapist's Directory
and help prospective clients and referral
sources learn more about you and the services you offer.
Communicate in detail your unique credentials and expertise.
Contact Forum Admin.
|