Essay About Loss Of Interest And Depressive Episodes

Depression
Essay title: Depression
Everybodys mood varies according to events in the world around them. People
are happy when they achieve something or saddened when they fail a test or lose
something. When they are sad, some people say they are depressed, but the
clinical depressions that are seen by doctors differ from the low mood brought
on by everyday setbacks. Psychiatrists see a range of more severe mood
disturbances and so find it easier to distinguish these from the normal
variations of mood seen in the community. General practitioners (GPs) need to
be sensitive enough to distinguish emotional reactions to setbacks in life from
anxiety syndromes, somatisation and clinical depressions. The general idea is
that anxiety disorders, depressive episodes, somatisation and adjustment
reactions are all different entities, but in practice it is not always that
clear-cut. Major depression, as defined by psychiatrists, is unfortunately
relatively common.
What is depression?
The term “affect” refers to ones mood or “spirits.” “Affective disorder” refers
to changes in mood that occur during an episode of illness marked by extreme
sadness (depression) or excitement (mania) or both. Depression is a disorder of
affect. Affective disorders are predominantly disturbances of mood that are
severe in nature and persistent despite the influence of external events.
Depression is characterized by severe and persistent low mood, which is often
unresponsive to the efforts of friends and family to cheer the sufferer up.
Patients who suffer with repeated episodes of depression have a Recurrent
Depressive Disorder. Depressive episodes can be classified into mild, moderate,
and severe types, with or without psychotic symptoms. To be classified as
depression, an episode must last more than two weeks. A condition where the
mood is persistently low, but does not quite fulfill all the criteria for a
depressive episode, is sometimes called “dysthymia.”
Community studies have found that depression is prevalent between 5 and 20% of
all people. About 10% of people over age 65 will have a major depressive
episode. The incidence of depression is higher in women and in urban settings
rather than rural settings.
Clinical features of depression
Mild depressive episodes typically include features such as:
•Sadness and crying,
•Loss of interest in and loss of enjoyment of life (anhedonia),
•Poor attention and concentration,
•Low self-esteem and ideas of unworthiness,
•A bleak view of the future and the world in general,
•Poor sleep and appetite.
People with mild depressive episodes find it difficult to continue with their
work and social lives, but usually continue to function, although less than
normal. Moderate depressive episodes have a wider range of symptoms, which are
present usually to a greater degree. Sufferers find it very difficult to
function normally at work or home.
Severe depressive episodes typically may also include features such as:
•Great distress and agitation,
•Slowed thought and movement (psychomotor retardation),