|
Log in
Donate To Depression Forums
Latest Forum Discussions
on: Saturday, 30 August 2008 06:06
on: Saturday, 30 August 2008 02:40
on: Saturday, 30 August 2008 02:12
on: Saturday, 30 August 2008 01:30
on: Saturday, 30 August 2008 01:12
Search
Member Testimonials
QUOTE(robinbird @ Jun 15 2007, 03:43 PM) *Hi everyone. I found this forum when I was searching for information about side effects of Lexapro. There is so much useful information here...I'm so glad I found this place. I've been depressed for several years now, was diagnosed with dysthymia about 3 years ago (which is the first time I ever told anyone about my depression), and I just started Lexapro this past October. Like I said, I found this place when I was researching side effects...I've been ridiculously tired on Lexapro, but other than that I'm doing ok on it. Thanks for such a great forum...I've lurked a few times before joining and everyone seems so helpful and friendly.
(-robinbird)
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
|
Could you benefit from talk therapy?
|
By Harvard Health Publications
Every year, one in five adults in the United States experiences a mental disorder or an emotional problem serious enough to warrant treatment. Although psychotherapy is a cornerstone of psychological treatment, the initial suggestion — whether it comes from your physician, spouse, or best friend — can raise many questions. Are my loved ones tired of discussing my problems? Does my doctor think I’m crazy? Can talking really help? Would medicine work just as well? Will my insurance help pay? How do I find the right person to talk to? This article discusses how psychotherapy works in treating depression and other common psychological conditions.
What is psychotherapy?
Psychotherapy — often referred to as talk therapy — addresses troubling symptoms and emotions using psychological techniques rather than, or along with, medication or other physical approaches. There are many theories and styles of psychotherapy, but the two most popular forms are psychodynamic therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy.
Which works best? There’s no simple answer. Just as many forms of aerobic exercise can help you achieve cardiovascular fitness, many types of therapy can help you understand yourself better, change behavior that is wrong for you, and help relieve bothersome symptoms. You may do better with one type than with another, or find that a blended approach, drawn from different schools of psychotherapy, suits you best. Your regular participation in the process is more important than the type of therapy you choose. Most important is the match, or rapport, between you and your therapist.
Although most therapists emphasize one type of intervention, a good therapist can incorporate elements of others as well. Whatever approach the therapist adopts, she or he should develop a trusting alliance with you, suggest fresh ways for you to perceive your problems, and help alleviate your symptoms and your sense of isolation.
Psychodynamic therapy
Psychodynamic therapists believe that past experiences and feelings of which you’re not consciously aware can influence your present emotional well-being and ability to function. Through regular discussions with a therapist, you can gain insight into your motivations and conflicts and learn more productive ways to cope with them.
"Psychodynamic therapy can be very helpful if you feel like your life is repeating old patterns or you aren’t clear what direction you want to take," says Harvard Medical School psychiatrist Margaret S. Ross, M.D.
The process of psychoanalysis developed by Sigmund Freud may be the most familiar form of psychodynamic therapy, but it’s not the most common. Psychoanalysis is designed to uncover the unconscious roots of your symptoms and help you apply this understanding to your current life. Classic psychoanalysis is time-consuming (it requires meeting several times a week, possibly for many years) and not widely used today. However, it’s still influential in the thinking behind much psychodynamic therapy, which can be short- or long-term, and may focus broadly or more narrowly on a particular issue or symptom.
Another common focus of psychodynamic therapy is an individual’s interaction with other people. Psychodynamic therapy can help you identify what you seek in a relationship (your needs), the healthy and unhealthy ways of meeting those needs, and ways to improve your ability to communicate. Such therapy can help people cope with the loss of a relationship, conflicts within relationships, or the demands of shifting roles (such as retirement or caring for a parent). One system of therapy with this emphasis, called interpersonal therapy, combines elements of psychodynamic therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and other techniques. Therapy is limited to three or four months and focuses on psychological difficulties sparked by recent conflicts or transitions. While not widely available, it is coming into more common use.
Selected resourcesAmerican Psychiatric Association 703-907-7300 http://www.psych.orgAmerican Psychological Association 800-374-2721 (toll free) http://www.apa.org4Therapy.com Network 888-484-3727 (toll free) http://www.4therapy.comNational Mental Health Association Resource Center 800-969-6642 (toll free) http://www.nmha.org
The cognitive behavioral approach
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is less focused on the underpinnings of feelings and instead emphasizes how to change the thoughts and behaviors that are causing problems. CBT can be used to alter difficult behaviors, such as smoking, procrastination, or phobias, and can also help address conditions such as depression and anxiety.
Cognitive behavioral therapists believe that you can change your feelings by changing your thoughts and actions. For example, you may have patterns of distorted thinking — excessive self-criticism or guilt, always anticipating the worst, attributing untoward motives to others — that make you vulnerable to feeling bad. CBT teaches you to recognize these patterns as they emerge and alter them. The "behavior" part refers to learning more productive responses to distressing circumstances or feelings — such as relaxing and breathing deeply instead of hyperventilating when in an anxiety-provoking situation.
Body and mindPsychological disorders have physical symptoms — fatigue is a hallmark of depression — and many medical disorders have psychological symptoms. For example, an overactive thyroid can make you irritable, depressed, and anxious; an underactive thyroid can make you depressed and slow-thinking. It’s easier to treat these symptoms if their medical basis is recognized. Otherwise, psychotherapy alone won’t relieve even the psychological symptoms, and failure to treat the medical condition can be dangerous.If you consult your primary care physician about psychological problems, a physical exam and testing can rule out a medical disorder. If you go directly to a psychologist, social worker, or other therapist who isn’t a physician, that person should keep in mind the possibility of medical problems and suggest a medical evaluation if appropriate.
Not going it alone
Most talk therapy involves one-on-one meetings with a psychotherapist, but other configurations can be helpful, too, depending on your needs.
Group therapy. Several people meet in regular sessions with a therapist. Interacting with others and hearing their problems can support your efforts to change and reduce your sense of isolation. Group therapy can be particularly helpful for people with difficulties in social interaction because it provides a place to practice and get feedback from others. A group may be organized around a single topic, such as anxiety, bereavement, or a medical condition — or it may be concerned with more general issues, on the understanding that most people cope with similar problems.
Before joining a group, you will be interviewed by the therapist and may be asked to commit to a certain number of sessions. Group therapy may be combined with individual sessions.
Family therapy. This involves the family unit. It’s usually brief and focused on problem solving. It can help families correct miscommunication, change dysfunctional patterns of blame, or adjust to altered circumstances, such as a chronic illness or adult children moving back home. It may be especially helpful when an individual’s psychological problem affects other members of the family.
Couples therapy. Also called marital therapy and marriage counseling, couples therapy focuses on your relationship with your partner. The process may be much like individual psychotherapy, or the couples therapist may act as a mediator, finding acceptable compromises when there is conflict. The therapist helps you and your partner examine your patterns of interaction and determine what changes are needed for each person to be satisfied.
Support groups. Support groups are usually organized around a specific issue, such as bereavement, a particular illness, divorce, or recovery from addiction. A professional usually does not lead them, and, strictly speaking, they are not a form of psychotherapy. But they can be extremely helpful for individuals or families confronting certain circumstances or striving to sustain healthy behavior changes. Like group therapy, support groups may be time-limited or ongoing. Insurance doesn’t cover all support groups.
Read More...
When is psychotherapy appropriate?
While medications are essential for the adequate treatment of certain mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression, research shows that improvement is often greater when psychotherapy is added. By helping you understand and cope with the disorder, talk therapy can also help you stay in treatment and avoid relapse.
Anxiety disorders can be treated with psychotherapy, medication, or both. CBT is the most common treatment for phobias, that is, irrational fears of certain objects or situations.
If you have generalized anxiety or obsessive-compulsive disorder, CBT can help you learn to respond differently in situations that cause anxiety. A combination of psychotherapeutic approaches is required to help people with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) come to terms with their trauma, losses, and painful memories.
Either talk therapy or medication can be used to treat mild to moderate depression, but combining them may be particularly effective. For example, researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine found that when depressed people ages 60 and over received psychotherapy along with an antidepressant, they were symptom-free longer. Their quality of life and social interactions improved more than those of patients receiving either treatment alone.
Recent research comparing before-and-after brain scans of people being treated for depression suggests that medication and psychotherapy counter depression in different ways (Archives of General Psychiatry, January 2004). Among people receiving psychotherapy (as CBT), PET scans showed increased blood flow in the limbic, or "emotional," system, and decreased activity in certain "thinking" areas of the brain. Subjects who took antidepressants showed different changes in the same brain regions. This may help explain why individual responses to treatment vary so much.
For seasonal affective disorder, a type of depression that recurs in the fall and winter, the standard approach is regular exposure to bright light. But new research indicates that CBT may work just as well, by helping patients revise their negative thoughts about the lack of light and learn ways to cope with winter darkness.
After diagnosing depression, a primary care doctor is more likely to prescribe an antidepressant, and a psychiatrist is more likely to recommend psychotherapy and an antidepressant. (A psychiatrist is also more likely to prescribe the antidepressant at the correct dose for you.) Your preferences should be considered. If your primary care physician prescribes an antidepressant, you can request a referral for psychotherapy, or wait to see how you respond to the medication, which may help you participate more effectively in talk therapy.
A psychiatrist may both provide psychotherapy and prescribe medication, but most psychotherapists cannot prescribe drugs. If you’re seeing a non-M.D. psychotherapist, she or he may recommend that you ask your physician about a prescription for an antidepressant. In that case, it’s important for the therapist and prescribing physician to collaborate in providing the best care for you.
Who offers psychotherapy?
Therapists differ in training, philosophy, and experience. When choosing a therapist, you may find that the "fit" is more important to you than the therapist’s specific discipline. Insurance companies usually restrict payment to practitioners licensed in your state.
• Psychiatrists are physicians who complete at least four years of psychiatric residency (in addition to four years of medical school). Psychiatrists can prescribe medication and hospitalize patients, if needed. This level of training is often essential in treating schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and severe depression. A psychiatrist may offer psychotherapy or concentrate strictly on medical treatment. When looking for a psychiatrist, ask whether she or he performs psychotherapy and what type.
• Most clinical psychologists have doctoral level training (Ph.D. or Psy.D.) in clinical psychology. Psychologists receive extensive training in psychotherapy, but may have less experience than a psychiatrist in handling serious mental illnesses such as schizophrenia. A psychologist is not usually able to prescribe medication or admit someone to the hospital.
• Clinical social workers have master’s degree level training. While not all specialize in psychotherapy, many receive training in therapy and understanding how people function within their families and communities.• Marriage and family therapists are master’s level professionals trained to help with conflicts within marriages and families. They may have less training and experience in individual therapy. Psychotherapy is also available from other licensed mental health practitioners, including psychiatric nurses, clinical nurse specialists, and trained members of the clergy. Although it’s impossible to predict exactly how many therapy sessions you’ll need, it’s reasonable to ask a therapist for an estimate of how long therapy will take, and how and when she or he will evaluate your progress.
SOURCE:-
Last Updated: 08/04
Copyright © 2006 by the Presidents and Fellows of Harvard College. All rights reserved. Harvard Medical School does not approve or endorse any products on the page. Harvard is the sole creator of its editorial content
|
|
 |
|
 |
Comments 
|
This Month In Pictures
Members Online
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
|
Depression-Free, Naturally
Self-Coaching
Mind Over Mood
Why Am I Still Depressed? Recognizin...
Living Well with Depression and Bipo...
Depressed and Anxious
