Diagnosis
of Clinical Depression
One
tool used in diagnosing Clinical Depression is the Diagnostic
and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DMS-IV). This manual
is published by the American Psychiatric Association and lists
criteria for psychiatrists, psychologists, etc., in diagnosing
mental
disorders. DMS-IV also provides diagnostic codes for use in
medical record keeping and for medical insurance reasons.
In
some cases the diagnosis of Clinical Depression is difficult.
Depression can be obscured in an individual by anxiety, insomnia
or substance abuse. Depression could be unknowingly secondary
to a medical illness or drug treatment. In the geriatric population,
Clinical Depression may be confused with organic mental syndrome
such
as dementia.
Treatment
of Clinical Depression
Though
conventional at the time, the treatment of individuals with
mental disorders dates back centuries. Although well intentioned,
by today's standards, treatment protocols established then were
generally inhumane, punitive, and largely unsuccessful.
In
the 17th century, the belief was if mad individuals behaved
like animals, they should be treated like animals. In this respect
torture was considered the norm in treating Clinical Depression
and other mental disorders. When the torturous methods failed
to
return the person to sanity, they were executed. The 18th century
saw no improvement in treatment protocols with the development
of new asylums to house individuals with mental health problems.
A new therapy at the time was "water immersion" in
which the patient was unwarily thrown into the sea, and kept
under water as long as possible. Another was the special "spinning
stool" which spun the patient round until he was dizzy.
The spinning was supposed to rearrange the brain contents into
the right positions.
Psychotherapy
Times
have changed today and treatment protocols involve psychotherapy,
medication or more importantly, both. There are a wide number
of different types of effective therapeutic approaches utilized
for the treatment of depression today. These range from
psychodynamic therapy to interpersonal therapy to cognitive
and behavioral therapy.
-
Psychodynamic therapy is used in treatment to help patients
understand themselves more fully. This form of therapy is based
on the premise that unconscious conflicts, significant childhood
experiences, and painful feelings that are hidden behind a variety
of defense mechanisms influence our mental well-being.
-
Interpersonal therapy is designed to improve the quality of
the patient's interpersonal world. Common themes include unresolved
grief, transitions from one social or occupational role to another,
conflict between the patient and significant individuals in
his or her life, and deficiencies in the capacity to relate
to others.
-
Cognitive therapy is the most used as far as depression is concerned.
This therapy is employed in treatment to help patients recognize
and change thinking patterns that are harmful or ineffective.
-
Behavioral therapy is used to address a patient's specific behaviors,
substituting positive behaviors for harmful or inappropriate
ones.
Note:
Symptoms associated with Clinical Depression:
Concentration
is often impaired
Feelings of guilt, helplessness and/or hopelessness
Inability to experience pleasure
Thoughts of suicide
Increase in self-critical thoughts
Increased isolation
Sleep disturbance
Missing deadlines or a drop in standards
Feeling fatigued after 12 hours of sleep
Change in personality
Decrease in appetite or food loses its taste
Increased sexual promiscuity
Increased alcohol/drug use
Clinical
symptoms are individualized, thus an individual may only exhibit
a few of these symptoms.
