What Is Depression, Essay Example

Depression, or melancholia in other words, has been recognized as a clinical syndrome for more than 2,000 years, yet still there is much misunderstanding about its causes, symptoms, nature and effective treatment (Beck & Alford, ). This disease is connected with many paradoxes since it causes puzzling, debasing behavior of patients having it, but at the same time it is yet not clear what behavior should be considered the manifestation of depression, i.e. the revelation of a disease, and what behavior is just an exaggeration of a normal but sad human mood. In addition, there is much disagreement about the psychological and possibly biological nature of a depression, as well as its essence (some researchers consider it to be the reaction of the human body to certain external causes, while others think of it as a disease) (Beck and Alford, ). Much has to be understood and found out about depression to find the clue to its early diagnosis as well as effective treatment methods.

It is extremely important to know more about depression for everyone because of the risk to become its victim existing in everyday reality for all members of the society without exception (absence of financial or spiritual problems does not guarantee protection from depression, in contrast to the widely spread opinion), and especially important the knowledge is for psychiatric nurses. There are many reasons for this exceptional importance of sufficient information about depression:

• Patients with depression may have subjective complaints or somatic symptoms that are not typical for depression;
• Sometimes patients with depression have physical manifestations such as fatigue, lack of pep, loss of appetite);
• Patients with depression may suffer from severe localized or generalized pain, though a physical examination may not reveal any medical abnormality;
• Complaints of patients may be physical, psychological or mixed;
• Depression has emotional, cognitive, vegetative and physical manifestations, delusions and hallucinations included (Beck & Alford, ).

All these types of symptoms may be present in the patient’s state of health, thus aggravating his or her mood and depriving him/her of normal self-perception and self-evaluation. In case physical pain is added, the clinical status of the patient may become dangerous for health, and in any situation, from mild to severe symptoms of depression, a psychiatric nurse have to be able to provide the patient with all necessary assistance, proper medications that will not worsen the patient’s well-being, and support in case it is necessary. One more reason for which it is so significant for nurses to be aware of all implications of a depression is that the depressed mood is often underestimated as to its negative impact on the overall state of the patient’s health, so a nurse have to know all symptoms and their seriousness to help the patient in a correct and timely manner.

In addition, psychiatric nurses should be aware of all depression-related information because of the abilities of certain medications to cause depression. In such cases it is essential for nurses to identify the cause of symptoms in the usage of medications but not the disease from which the medicine is taken – this understanding is often the key to successful treatment of depression and recognition of the roots for the disease. Thus, among medications commonly causing depression the following ones should be remembered:

• Hormones (estrogens like Premarin, Prempro)
• Antipsychotic drugs (barbiturates and benzodiazepines – central nervous system depressants)
• Anti-hypertensive agents: statins (drugs used to lower cholesterol and prevent heart attacks); beta-blockers (used to treat heart problems, chest pain, abnormal heart rhythms);
• Analgesics: opioids (codeine, morphine, Demerol etc.);
• Anti-inflammatory drugs, e.g. interferon;
• Some other drugs used to treat Parkinson’s disease (Bromocriptine), to treat shingles and herpes (Zovirax), for birth control (Norplant) (Medicines that Cause Depression, 2010).

Alongside with the medical solution to the problem of depression there is a list of coping skills and strategies that may assist a patient with diagnosed depression cope with it; however, the initial step is surely realization of the fact that in general the depressive state of mind can be overcome, though at times it seems next to impossible (Saisan & Segal, 2008). The most difficult steps are the first ones, when the patient having a depression has to start overcoming it by taking action. Those who have had a depressive state of mind know that it is terrifying even to think about any activities, let alone taking them. However, action is the key to success, no matter how difficult it turns out in reality and how little the depressed person wants to engage in it.

The first tip given by anti-depression specialists is to build supportive relationships (Saisan & Segal, 2008). It is true that people in the depressed mood long to solitude, but breaking the vicious circle is impossible without social networking. Thus, Saisan and Segal (2008) offer such variants as: turning to trusted friends and family members, trying to keep up with social activities even in cases when the patient does not feel like doing it, and joining a support group for depression. The second tip given by Saisan and Segal (2008) is to take care about oneself; here the authors offer patients to do things they enjoy, to adopt healthy lifestyle habits to feel better physically (which is the key to moral well-being as well), and to manage depression by means of using stress management tools. Next, the authors insist that regular physical exercises are the key to success in fighting the depression – due to the emission of useful, positive hormones, and keeping fit depression will be overcome much quicker and easier than from medications or steady lifestyle (Saisan & Segal, 2008).

Healthy, mood-boosting food can also be highly helpful in overcoming the depression – e.g. Omega-3 fatty acids have been proven to stabilize mood (Saisan & Segal, 2008). Among other tools for overcoming depression one should take into consideration challenging negative thinking and developing one’s emotional intelligence; following these steps will guarantee stabilization of spirits, disappearance of negative attitudes to life and biased, diminished self-perception (Saisan & Segal, 2008). All these steps may become extremely helpful and may serve as a truly effective toolbox for overcoming the depressed state of mind and body in case the symptoms of depression are taken seriously, the disease is diagnosed in a timely manner and the patient is willing to take treatment in a precise and systematic way. 

References

Beck, A.T., and Alford, B.A. (2009). Depression: Causes and Treatment.(2^nd ed.). University of Pennsylvania Press.

Medicines that Cause Depression (2010). WebMed. Retrieved May 31, 2010, from http://www.webmd.com/depression/guide/medicines-cause-depression

Saisan, J., and Segal, J. (2008). Dealing with Depression. Retrieved May 31, 2010, from http://helpguide.org/mental/depression_tips.htm