Major Depressive Disorder

Brendan FoleyHaley Smith

What is Major Depressive Disorder?• Major depressive disorder, also known as depression, is a

serious medical condition that can impact the way you feel and act towards others.

• Many people with depression feel that life is no longer worth living. They may feel hopeless, like there's "no way out."

What is Major Depressive Disorder? • It is a mood disorder in

which a person experiences, in the absence of drugs or a medical condition, two or more weeks of significantly depressed moods, feelings of worthlessness, and diminished interest or pleasure in most activities

Etiology

• Alcohol and drug abuse• Life events or situations: failing a class, illness or

death in the family, childhood events (such as abuse or neglect), social isolation

• Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), medications (sedatives and high blood pressure medicines), cancer, major illness, or prolonged pain

• Sleeping problems

Symptoms• Agitation, restlessness, and irritability• Dramatic change in appetite, often with weight gain or loss• Extreme difficulty concentrating• Fatigue and lack of energy• Feelings of hopelessness and helplessness• Feelings of worthlessness, self-hate, and inappropriate guilt• Inactivity and withdrawal from usual activities, a loss of

interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed• Thoughts of death or suicide• Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping

Diagnosis

• Major depression is when a person has five or more symptoms of depression for at least 2 weeks.

• These symptoms include feeling sad, hopeless, worthless, or pessimistic.

• In addition, people with major depression often have behavior changes, such as new eating and sleeping patterns.

Treatments• Depression can be treated in a variety of ways,

particularly with medications and counseling. Most people benefit from a combination of the two treatments.

• Some studies have shown that antidepressant drug therapy combined with psychotherapy has better results than either therapy alone.

• Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment that causes a seizure by means of an electrical current. ECT may improve the mood of severely depressed or suicidal people who don't respond to other treatments

Treatments

• It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle:– Avoid alcohol and drugs (which

make depression worse and may interfere with medications)

– Eat well-balanced meals– Get regular exercise and sleep– Seek supportive relationships

Complications

• Suicide (up to 15% of people with major depressive disorder die by suicide)

• Increased risk of alcohol- and drug-related problems • Increased risk of tobacco dependence • Increased risk of problems with physical health and premature death

due to medical illness

Prevention• You may be able to avoid some episodes of depression by:

– Avoiding alcohol, drugs, and caffeine– Exercising regularly– Learning how to relax and manage stress– Maintaining good sleep habits

• Counseling may help you through times of grief, stress, or low mood. Family therapy may be particularly important for teens who feel blue.

• Medications and psychiatric counseling may prevent depression from returning. Some episodes of depression are not preventable.

Famous People with Major Depressive Disorder

• Terry Bradshaw - former Pittsburgh Steelers star quarterback, has spoken publicly about his depression as well as encouraged others who suffer from depression to seek help

• F. Scott Fitzgerald - an important author in American history, battled depression and alcoholism

• Abraham Lincoln - 16th President of the United States and the one who issued a proclamation allowing my state to secede from Virginia, suffered from depression and “breakdowns

What does Major Depressive Disorder feel like?

• The difference between a blue mood after bad news and a mood disorder is like the difference between gasping for breath for a few minutes after a hard run and being chronically short of breath.

• To sense what major depression feels like, imagine combining the anguish of grief with the sluggishness of jetlag.

Works CitedMajor depression. (n.d.). Retrieved Novemberr 17, 2010, from

Medline Plus: http://www.nlm.nih.govMajor depression. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2010, from

Google Health: https://health.google.comMyers, D. G. (2007). Psychology. Holland: Worth Publishers.Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Patients With Major

Depressive Disorder, Third Edition. (n.d.). Retrieved November 17, 2010, from Psychiatry Online: http://www.psychiatryonline.com

Sparks, A. (2008, June 9). Celebrities and Depression. Retrieved November 17, 2010, from Bliss Tree: http://www.blisstree.com