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Informative Articles

How to Conquer Depression Naturally
Do you feel overly tired and lazy? Do you have days, more regular than you like, where you don't feel like getting dressed - or even getting out of bed? Do you ever find yourself avoiding social situations because "You just don't feel like it"? If...

How To Tell Sadness From Depression
Publishing Guidelines: You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the resource box is included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated. ...

Mood Disorders And Depression
Mood Disorders And Depression By Jeannie Crabtree We all suffer with bad moods from time to time. But if you are someone who is in a bad mood or depressed much of the time, take heart. There are natural remedies to help with balancing your...

The End of Extreme Depression, Self-injury, Incited violence & Suicide
Please help end suicide (and extreme depression, self-injury & incited violence) and spread the web addresses everywhere, including the internet: SUICIDE VACCINE, a "figure of speech", is a solution to ending suicide, a life preserver made up of...

When Someone You Know Has To Deal With Depression, Anxiety And Fear
What do you do when you someone you know has to deal with persistent fears and anxieties or even depression? Well the first thing you need to do is to get the person to seek the services of a professional and/or counselor who can lead them in the...

 
Depression Series: Why Don’t I Respond to Medications? (Part 1)


Maria has been feeling depressed for at least two and a half years. About three years ago, her husband of 20 years left her for another woman. Devastated, she became despondent and tearful almost daily.

Eventually, her depression got worse associated with inability to function. Her appetite, energy, concentration, and sleep became impaired. She also felt hopeless and suicidal. Her psychiatrist put her on a starting dose of antidepressant. She responded initially but after a few days, she felt just like before taking the medication.

For the past two years, Maria has tried four types of antidepressants. She has taken the usual adult doses of these drugs. Although she somewhat improves, she has virtually remained the same — depressed and disabled.

Maria seems to be taking the medications regularly. But why is she not responding to her antidepressants?

Maria is just one of the many depressed individuals who don’t feel “normal” despite treatment. Depression is a treatable disease but how come some people don’t do well on medications?

There are many reasons why depressed patients like Maria don’t improve on antidepressants.

First, is the diagnosis correct?

Depression can be caused by many clinical entities. Sometimes, knowing the right diagnosis is a challenge. Medical disorders, medications such as beta-blockers and benzodiazepines (e.g. clonazepam), and various psychiatric disorders can cause depression and they all require different treatment. If your doctor fails to identify and treat the true cause of your depression, you will remain depressed despite the use of antidepressant.

Second, are there co-morbid disorders?

Depression can exist along with other psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorder, alcohol or drug problems, personality disorder, dementia, and psychosis. Depression will persist if these co-morbid disorders are not treated. For instance, depressive disorder with psychosis cannot be adequately treated just with antidepressant alone. You need an antipsychotic drug added to an antidepressant to treat the illness.


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Third, is there an ongoing neurological or medical disorder that precipitates, aggravates, or complicates depression?

Hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, vitamin B-12 deficiency, pancreatic cancer, brain tumor, Parkinson’s disease, and stroke can all cause depression. If any of these disorders are present, antidepressants are less likely to help. The goal in these situations is to treat the underlying medical condition. A 65 year-old lady came to see me complaining of severe depression. On evaluation, she disclosed that she had been on three types of antidepressants for the past four years with minimal response. I checked her recent laboratory results which showed an abnormal thyroid! No wonder, she was not responding to the medication.

Fourth, are there ongoing psychosocial issues?

Financial problems, family conflict, work-related stress can all precipitate and complicate depression. Despite adequate medication treatment, some individuals will remain depressed especially if such problems are not addressed by the therapist or psychiatrist. Is there any way you can reduce the stressors? Please do so the earliest you can.

The treatment of depression is frequently straightforward. Occasionally however, various factors complicate it. For antidepressant to be effective, a psychiatrist should ensure that the diagnosis is correct, that co-morbid psychiatric disorders and medical problems are treated, and that psychosocial issues are adequately addressed.

Maria’s doctor should explore further the real problem and provide the most appropriate intervention.

Copyright © 2003. All rights reserved. Dr. Michael G. Rayel – author (First Aid to Mental Illness–Finalist, Reader’s Preference Choice Award 2002), speaker, workshop leader, and psychiatrist. Dr. Rayel helps individuals recognize the early signs of mental illness and provide early intervention. To receive free newsletter, visit www.drrayel.com. His books are available at major online bookstores.


mike@drrayel.com


 

Welcome to Depression.com
Facts about depression, including how to manage it and how to live with this medical condition.
www.depression.com
 
NIMH: Depression
Such a disabling episode of depression may occur only once but more ... Depression can also affect the physical health in men differently from women. ...
www.nimh.nih.gov
 
NIMH: Depression
National Institute of Mental Health presents a comprehensive series of articles on symptoms and management. Includes booklets of personal accounts and ...
www.nimh.nih.gov
 
Clinical depression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Clinical depression (also called major depressive disorder) is a state of intense ... By definition the symptoms are not as severe as with Major Depression, ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Great Depression - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Great Depression was an economic downturn which started in 1929 (although its ... The Great Depression ended at different times in different countries; ...
en.wikipedia.org
 
Dr. Ivan's Depression Central
This site is Internet's central clearinghouse for information on all types of depressive disorders and on the most effective treatments for individuals ...
www.psycom.net
 
Depression Screening Test
Answer a few simple questions to determine if you are experiencing depressive symptoms. Provides a referral list and information on depression.
www.med.nyu.edu
 
MedlinePlus: Depression
From the National Institutes of Health; Depression (National Institute of Mental Health) ... Select services and providers for Depression in your area. ...
www.nlm.nih.gov
 
Welcome to depression-screening.org
Most people with depression, however, do not seek the professional help they ... The depression-screening.org web site is sponsored by the National Mental ...
www.depression-screening.org
 
iFred - International Foundation for Research and Education on ...
"This book can help those directly and indirectly touched by depression. ... iFred Brings New Hope to Depression with Thousands of Sunflowers ...
www.ifred.org
 
Depression information and treatment
Information about depression, depression treatment, and facts about depression.
www.psychologyinfo.com
 
Depression
Depression is a strong mood involving sadness, discouragement, despair, or hopelessness that lasts for weeks, months, or even longer.
www.kidshealth.org
 
Depression Alliance web site with information about depression ...
Information about the symptoms and treatment of depression from Depression Alliance, a UK charity for people with clinical depression and anxiety.
www.depressionalliance.org
 
WebMD Depression Health Center - Learn the symptoms of depression ...
Articles, links, and resources for sufferers of depression.
www.webmd.com
 
Depression - Information and Support
THE starting place for exploring Depression. Support forums, links, articles and more.
depression.about.com
 
beyondblue: the national depression initiative
Australian organisation provides information about depression to consumers, carers and health professionals.
www.beyondblue.org.au
 
Using EFT for Depression, Teen Depression & Clinical Depression
EFT's results for all forms of depression are often astonishing. In most cases the depressed feelings vanish or are materially reduced within a few minutes ...
www.emofree.com
 
Depression
The website for Depression. ... Please note that Depression is comprised of backfile volumes. Volume 4, Issue 2 (1996). Articles in this Issue: ...
www3.interscience.wiley.com
 
Depression - MayoClinic.com
Depression is more than just a bout of the blues. Fortunately, treatments are available.
www.mayoclinic.com
 
Mental Help Net - Depression (Unipolar)
Depression is one of the most common and most serious mental health ... Fortunately, there are many highly effective treatments for depression today that ...
mentalhelp.net
 
 

 

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