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on: Friday, 20 November 2009 20:12
on: Friday, 20 November 2009 18:54
on: Friday, 20 November 2009 18:32
on: Friday, 20 November 2009 17:49
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Current Poll

How do you react to holiday stress?

Does the Holiday Season Stress You Out or Make You Happy?

  Yes. The end of the year holidays stress me out.


 Nope. I love holiday season.


 The holidays do a little bit of both.


 What stress? I live for this time of year.


 Love the season, can't stand the in-laws.


 The kids get hyper -- I get annoyed.


 Panic sets in as the days count down.


 I get depressed, moody, and cranky.


 I'm already stressing, and the holidays haven't even begun....


 Expenses (the cost of gifts, parties, etc.)


How do you react to holiday stress?

 Eat too much


 Don't exercise


 Isolate myself


 Spend too much money



16 Total Votes
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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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Depression-What you need to know
Clinical Depression is a common, real and treatable illness.
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By Forum Admin


 

August 1st, 2009

About 15 millions Americans are suffering through depression every year; one in every Six Americans suffers from depression in their life time.  The most common treatment is a combination of therapy and medicine.

A bigger challenge is that many who need the help most also have the difficulty on trusting their medicine.  They justify that none of these work.  Quite often those taking the medications and therapies are not the ones who need it the most.

On top of these problems, the uncertainity in the effectiveness of these medications enhances the belief.  “There’s no clear evidence that one antidepressant is more effective than another,” said Dr. Ian A. Cook, director of depression research at UCLA’s Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior.  “there is not a good way to know what medication is going to be the best for your patient,” said Dr. Raymond J. DePaulo Jr., a professor of psychiatry at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine.   Devon Schuyler of LA Times, says that cost has become less of a concern now that most antidepressants are available in generic form for less than $20 a month, so the decision usually comes down to side effects.


By Forum Admin
Aug 7, 2009 - According to new research, college students with depression are twice as likely as their classmates to drop out of school.
However, the research also indicates that lower grade point averages depended upon a student’s type of depression.

There are two core symptoms of depression—loss of interest and pleasure in activities, or depressed mood—but only loss of interest is associated with lower grade point averages.
“The correlation between depression and academic performance is mainly driven by loss of interest in activities,” says Daniel Eisenberg, assistant professor in the University of Michigan School of Public Health and principal investigator of the study.

By Lindsay

What Causes Depression?




The causes of depression are manifold, but the most important thing is to take charge of your life and make decisions that won't cause you to feel worse.



Is it All in My Head?


I've read that depression is an excuse not to grow up, not to be responsible for your own happiness, that it is self-pity, etc. I've also read and heard how it is a chemical reaction in the brain and that a person can't control it. Which is correct? Am I being selfish and self-centered? Have I created this depression or is it out of my control?

What causes depression? The best answer is many things. The contributing factors vary substantially from one person to the next.

To start with, biology matters—there can be genetic and neurochemical factors that play a role in the onset and course of depression. The misconception many people have, though, is that you have a neurochemical anomaly and then depression results.


By Lindsay

 What can I do to help my depression?

How do I help myself if I am depressed?


  • See your doctor or mental health professional to set up a treatment plan; this may include medication, support groups, or psychotherapy. 
  • Try to be an active participant in your care.
  • Stick to the treatment plan and educate yourself about your condition.
  • Engage in mild exercise:  it has been shown to reduce depression symptoms.
  • Take care not to become isolated; stay involved with or expand your support network.
 

By Lindsay

My Christmas Tree is Down and So Am I...

This realization often leads to increases in depression and can also lead to thoughts of suicide. In fact, suicide rates often spike dramatically after the holidays.

What If a Loved One Is Perhaps Suffering From Post-Holiday Depression?



One of the most common thoughts regarding depression is that symptoms of this disorder increase during the holidays. Many argue that this is because individuals suffering from depression are more likely to feel “down” when their holiday events do not compare with those of others around them. Often, the people who come to mind are those isolated individuals who have little money and few friends with whom to celebrate. 

Actuality, the holidays often function as a buffer for most individuals. They often serve to provide a sense of hopefulness and belonging. This sense of connectedness often makes it easier for depressed individuals to function during the holidays with fewer symptoms. In fact, rates of depression and completed suicides are actually lower during the holiday season.

It is not until after the holidays that those with depression find themselves having increased symptoms.  Loneliness and despair become more common. It is during this time that the hopefulness associated with the holidays begins to wane. Individuals suffering from depression realize that their lives are the same as they were before the holidays, and that the hopefulness they felt was only temporary.



By kstours
Inability to suppress negative emotional states revealed.

By kstours
Measurements of activity in the amygdala may help to predict the effectiveness of treatments.

By Lindsay
Agitated depression: A major depressive disorder with restlessness and motor excitement. Agitated depression was once called melancholia agitata. It is now also known as mixed mania.

By kstours
Many employers aren't "tuned into" depression.

By kstours
"Active and positive involvement" may help shield children

(Page 1 of 4)   
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A Risk Factor In Childhood Asthma Symptoms May Be Mother's Depression
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Telephone-Delivered Care For Treating Depression After Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery Appears To Improve Outcomes
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Easing Needle Anxiety
Needle! For some people, the word-almost as much as the sight of one sliding into skin-is enough for people to cringe, cry, even swoon if they're standing in line waiting for one. Experts believe fear of needles may be preventing people from rolling up their sleeves for the H1N1 vaccination.




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New Certified Reference Materials Offer Greater Certainty In Monitoring 3 Therapeutic Medications
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Mood Dysfunction Improved In Gene Knockout Mice
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Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe Ltd Withdraws Its Application For An Extension Of Indication For Abilify (aripiprazole), Europe
The European Medicines Agency has been formally notified by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe Ltd of its decision to withdraw its application for an extension of indication for the centrally authorised medicine Abilify (aripiprazole) tablets, orodispersible tablets and oral solution. Abilify was expected to be used in the treatment of major depressive episodes, as adjunctive therapy, in patients who have had an inadequate response to previous treatment with antidepressants.




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Mathematical Abilities Examined In Children With Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD) have a number of cognitive deficits, but mathematical ability seems particularly damaged. Little is known about the brain structures related to mathematical deficits in children with FASD. A new study that used diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to investigate the relationship between mathematical skills and brain white matter structure in children with FASD supports the importance of the left parietal area for mathematical tasks.

Innovative Therapy That Offers New Hope For Borderline Personality Disorder
Patients coping with the chaos and misery of Borderline Personality Disorder now have reason for strong confidence in making major life changes through a new treatment, Schema Therapy. For the first time, three major outcome studies have shown that many patients with Borderline Personality Disorder can achieve full recovery across the complete range of symptoms.




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Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe Ltd Withdraws Its Application For An Extension Of Indication For Abilify (aripiprazole), Europe
The European Medicines Agency has been formally notified by Otsuka Pharmaceutical Europe Ltd of its decision to withdraw its application for an extension of indication for the centrally authorised medicine Abilify (aripiprazole) tablets, orodispersible tablets and oral solution. Abilify was expected to be used in the treatment of major depressive episodes, as adjunctive therapy, in patients who have had an inadequate response to previous treatment with antidepressants.

Metabolic Effects Significantly Lower With INVEGA(R) Compared To Olanzapine
New data from a 6-month open label randomised controlled trial show INVEGA® (paliperidone ER) is associated with significantly less metabolic effects compared to oral olanzapine in people with schizophrenia, while demonstrating comparable efficacy.1 The results were presented at the 15th Biennial Winter Workshop in Psychoses in Barcelona, Spain.




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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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