Clinical Depression

I am getting my phd in clinical psych this summer. So here is a bunch of info:

Symptoms:
hopelessness, helplessness, feelings of agitation, motor retardation, changes in appetite, changes in weight, changes in sleeping pattern, lethargy, worthlessness, feelings of guilt, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, loss of libido, suicidal thoughts, ideation, or attempts.

Prevalence:
Twice as common in women then men.

Causes:
Environmental and Biological.
Biological-depressed individuals have too little of certain neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are chemical messages in your body. They include dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin, epinephrine.

Treatment:
Most depressions lift within 6 months without treatment. However, for many that is too long to go suffering.

Treatment should be three-pronged:
-Cognitive Treatment-change irrational and negative thoughts to positive and rational thoughts.

Behavioral Treatment-focus on increasing pleasant events in life and decreasing avoidant behaviors.

-Drug Treatment-SSRIs (prozac, zoloft, paxil) or 2nd Generation antidepressants (wellbutrin) focus on restoring the balance of neurotransmitters in your system.

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Posted by am470



Symptoms:
hopelessness, helplessness, feelings of agitation, motor retardation, changes in appetite, changes in weight, changes in sleeping pattern, lethargy, worthlessness, feelings of guilt, loss of interest in pleasurable activities, loss of libido, suicidal thoughts, ideation, or attempts.

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ALso they say if you have any of these for 2 weeks or more. Also I believe clinical depression is when it's not for a reson. it's not, I'm feeling down b/c my dog died, clinical depression has no reason or rhyme. it's linked to a lack of serotonin

I'm not an expert expert, but having taking a few psych courses and having been treated for clinical depression myself..

if it's a reason, then it's not depression. the definiteion of depression is that it's not caused by outside events.

if it's after something bad happenned, it could be post traumatic stress disorder, or just being sad, etc...

but I think bad events can cause depressive episodes to occur in someone who already has clinical depression., like for example if you have clinical depression adn you're managing it, but then someone dies or something happens it can completely throw you off track and cause you to have another bad episode.

I just have to discliam this again by saying I'm not a doctor...

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Posted by RedHead

yes you can be clinically depressed after a death or loss

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Yes, I was just about to edit to clarify. Some people will become depressed after a major life event or something bad, sometimes it's PTSD, sometimes it's a major depressive episode, but some people won't become depressed at all, you have to be physiologically prone to it, like addiction


ETA: This is just my opinion based on my research. I'm not an expert, but I think you either have clinical depression or you don't. it's biological. it's like a virus. it may never ever effect you, it may effect you once, or it may keep coming back. But if you have it, you always have it, sometimes it's just easier to deal with than other times

Depression vs sadness

Q. What is the difference between clinical depression and sadness? A. Although depression is often thought of a being an extreme state of sadness, there is a vast difference between clinical depression and sadness. Sadness is a part of being human, a natural reaction to painful circumstances. All of us will experience sadness at some point in our lives. Depression, however, is a physical illness with many more symptoms than an unhappy mood. The person with clinical depression finds that there is not always a logical reason for his dark feelings. Exhortations from well-meaning friends and family for him to 'snap out of it' provide only frustration for he can no more 'snap out of it' than the diabetic can will his pancreas to produce more insulin. Sadness is a transient feeling that passes as a person comes to term with his troubles. Depression can linger for weeks, months or even years. The sad person feels bad, but continues to cope with living. A person with clinical depression may feel overwhelmed and hopeless. Read more

There are a number of kinds of depression. For example, you could have major depressive episode or dysthymia. In all reality, it doesn't matter which one because the treatment is the same. But what I posted is accurate.

PTSD is very different than depression and it only occurs after exposure to a life-threatening or extremely dangerous stressor. PTSD symptoms include intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, avoidance of stimuli associated with stressor. This is very different than depression.

Depression can be diagnosed after an event (death, loss of job, etc.). In fact, what triggers the depression has nothing to do with the diagnosis. However, we don't diagnose depression if the person is experiencing normal grieving from a death, etc. But that is just a technicality.

Don't get hung up on the label of depression. What is important is recognizing whether you have the symptoms of depression or not. If so, it is best to treat it early. Its a lot easier to come out of a depression when you are mildly or moderately depressed than when you are severely depressed. Also, make sure whatever treatment you have focuses on your thoughts, behaviors, and biochemicals.

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Posted by am470

There are a number of kinds of depression. For example, you could have major depressive episode or dysthymia. In all reality, it doesn't matter which one because the treatment is the same. But what I posted is accurate.

PTSD is very different than depression and it only occurs after exposure to a life-threatening or extremely dangerous stressor. PTSD symptoms include intrusive thoughts, flashbacks, avoidance of stimuli associated with stressor. This is very different than depression.

Depression can be diagnosed after an event (death, loss of job, etc.). In fact, what triggers the depression has nothing to do with the diagnosis. However, we don't diagnose depression if the person is experiencing normal grieving from a death, etc. But that is just a technicality.

Don't get hung up on the label of depression. What is important is recognizing whether you have the symptoms of depression or not. If so, it is best to treat it early. Its a lot easier to come out of a depression when you are mildly or moderately depressed than when you are severely depressed. Also, make sure whatever treatment you have focuses on your thoughts, behaviors, and biochemicals.

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well said!

am,
I am going to send you FM if you don't mind.

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Posted by lilmrs

am,
I am going to send you FM if you don't mind.

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Of course not.

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Posted by am470

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Posted by lilmrs

am,
I am going to send you FM if you don't mind.

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Of course not.

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Thank you! You and Marymoon's advice seems to be conflicting and I am already confused but since this is your science and you will soon be a dr in it, I feel safe confiding in you.
Thank you!

i just wanted to give some for whomever needs them

Neenie!!
I meant to tell you, your hair looks fantastic!!!!

You asked what 'clinical depression' was so I tried to be specific. am is absolutely right. It's not the label that counts (but I thought that's what you were asking). I hope everything is ok and that it all works out for you