Introduction
In our everyday life, we experience stress at every corner. Instances like losing a loved one, losing a job or even divorce can make an individual feel sad, lonely, scared, nervous or anxious. It is our normal response to such stimuli, and they are usually accompanied by physiological changes in our body systems. According to the diagnostic and statistical manual (DSM) of mental disorders, mental illness have been categorized into several groups. DSM-IV used axes to categorize mental disorders into five axes. The first axis included all the psychological diagnostic categories except for the mental retardation and personality disorder. The second axis included the two excluded from the first axis, personality disorders and mental retardation. The third axis included the medical conditions, both acute medical conditions and physical disorders whereas the fourth axis included all the psychosocial and environmental aspects that contribute to the development of a disorder.
Background information
Feeling depressed is not something uncommon especially after stressful events like the ones described above. However, depression, the mental disorder arises after the individual develops the feelings of unworthiness, hopelessness, unmotivated in life. Such feelings may last for only a short period but may be a source of unproductivity in life hence the need to manage it. Statistics indicate that depression is in 3-5% of the general population whereas the risk is 17% in any one’s lifetime. It is therefore classified as in the first axis of DSM-IV where it is among other mental disorders. There are varying types of depression, and they slightly differ from each other. They include major depression, persistent depressive disorder (PDD) and the bipolar disorder. The latter has also been called manic-depression which involves the mood-swings frequently from high (mania) to the severe lows (Depression).
As opposed to depression, there is another mental disorder that is frequently confused with known as depression and anxiety. They differ even though a depressed patient can sometimes exhibit some of the anxiety symptoms including nervousness. Despite this fact, each of the mental conditions has its causes as well as symptoms. A study diagnosed that a larger percentage of the sample, 85% were diagnosed with major depression while 15% showed anxiety. Depression symptoms are very different from those of anxiety. For instance, depression shows no motivation as opposed to the anxiety which usually shows irritability and nervousness. Depression anxiety disorder, on the other hand, occurs when a depressive patient depicts some of the anxiety symptoms.
Causes of Depression and anxiety disorders
There are three distinct types of depression which are major depression, persistent depressive disorder (PDD) and the bipolar disorder. In this sense, there are several and varying causes of depression disorder. Major depression is the most prevalent of the three types and is most characterized by the frequent and persistent depressive episodes in a consistent two-week period. The symptoms of this disorder are usually destructive especially when it comes to production. The disorder’s episodes usually occur twice in a lifetime or may be frequent. The major cause of the major depressive disorders has been a traumatic experience that presents itself as a stressor causing the feelings of self-worth deteriorating to very low levels. With regards to the nature of the causes of major depressive disorder, they have been categorized as biological differences, brain chemistry, hormones and inheritable factors.
Those patients who depict depression have been determined to have undergone physical changes in their brains. Even though it is not certain, the studies have tried to pinpoint an association between the brain’s physical changes and the depressive disorder. Apart from the biological difference, another cause that has been established is the brain chemistry category which involves the neurotransmitters and how they interact with the nervous system of an individual. Those that mediate the mood might be malfunctioning pointing to the fact that it is a neurophysiological condition that is responsible for the different mood swings. Also, the hormones have been declared to be a primary contributor to the development of depression. When an individual experiences stress, stress hormones are released that may result in the development of unusual behavior especially concerning the moods.
The final category of the causes of major depressive disorder has been considered to be genetic factors which imply that the causes are inherited or maybe the traits that in the result into the development of depressive disorder are passed on. It has been established that those individuals that are usually diagnosed with the disorder, their relatives were also diagnosed with the same condition. A close blood relative depicting the major depressive disorder is an important risk factor for any individual to develop the disease. The researchers are trying to identify the particular gene phenotypes that are responsible for the development of the condition. Despite their efforts, the connection between the disorder and the inherited character traits has not been established. In other words, it is a risk factor that cannot yet be decreased.
Anxiety disorders usually categorized as the generalized anxiety or panic disorders. The constant feelings of worry and fear without any particular item to fear or be worried about. Anxiety disorders are much worse in the sense that they result in distress which in the end results in the disruption of normal life proceedings. As opposed to the major depressive disorder that causes an increased level of sadness, the anxiety disorders are responsible for nervousness and irritability of an individual. For people with anxiety, they experience a constant and overwhelming fear that can cause an individual to be unable to accomplish certain tasks. There are several forms of anxiety disorders which include panic, social anxiety disorder, specific phobias and the most common of all is the generalized anxiety disorder.
The panic disorder presents when an individual exhibits terror that is usually sudden and iterative without any warning whatsoever. The symptoms of this disorder usually align with those of a usual panic, and they include profuse sweating, palpitations, chest pains accompanied by irregular heartbeats. The social anxiety, on the other hand, are commonly referred to as social phobias where an individual depicts an overwhelming worry in social situations. The source of fear is usually centered on the cause that others determine, and its symptoms may result in embarrassment especially in front of friends. Specific phobias refer to the fear of a particularly known object which includes heights and flight. The phobias might lead to individual avoiding some of the typical activities as the fear might also be inappropriate for some situations. On the other hand, the generalized anxiety disorders refer to the increased unrealistic worry that an individual depicts even though there is virtually nothing that is causing the worry.
The general symptoms of the anxiety disorders include panic and worry that is overwhelming, short breaths because of the panic, palpitations, muscle tension, dry mouth, chest pains and even nausea. The major causes of anxiety disorders are many even though the exact cause has not yet been established. Like other mental disorders, the development of anxiety is not a result of character flay or poor upbringing. Regardless, the development of this condition has been attributed to the environmental stress and physiological changes to the brain. The environmental stress leads to the changes in the body functions which is responsible for the development of uncharacteristic behavior such as sweating and increased heart palpitations. When the anxiety leads an individual to experience, obsessions and compulsions will lead to the development of the obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).
The depression and anxiety disorders are diagnosed after a rigorous medical history and physical examination by the doctor. The major reason is to identify the cause of the anxiety and depression. When no medical condition is found as an underlying cause, the patient is immediately transferred to a psychiatrist who would initiate the necessary procedures meant to delay or prevent further development of the disease. Anxiety disorder symptoms are managed using medications where the drugs aim to minimize the symptoms. Psychotherapy is also initiated so as to mitigate the response to the illness. Cognitive-behavioral therapy can also be used where an individual learns the various changes in his behavior and patterns that may lead to bothersome feelings. Also, nutrition and dietary approaches are incorporated in the management care of the patients as well as the relaxation therapy.
Depression, on the other hand, is managed using drugs, and it has been established that the drugs are 80% effective. Several drugs are available and used to manage major depressive disorders and its symptoms, and the benefits are reported in after 4-6 weeks. Some of the drugs employed in the management of this mental disorder include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors and the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Apart from drug therapy, there are others that can be employed and they include cognitive behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy. The CBT works on the premises that the thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are connected as proposed by the cognitive theory of depression. Therefore, depression is managed by ensuring behavioral change so that emotive change can be achieved.
On the other hand, the interpersonal therapy is another psychotherapy that differs from the CBT only on the focus. The Interpersonal therapy focuses on the social environment of an individual’s social environment. Therefore, an individual is being assisted to achieve effective communication so that an individual can establish relationships. A whole course will take close to sixteen weeks even though others have been known to take as short as twelve weeks. In accordance with contemporary research, it has been asserted that an individual strategy is to be selected rather than a combination. The use of medications as well as another therapy has been found to be less effective as compared to when a single strategy is put in play. Regardless, for individuals with severe and mild major depressive disorders has been shown to be beneficial. The fact is that it is an area that experiences a lot of controversies pertaining the treatment of the condition.
Upcoming sections of the scientific world have come with an assertion that religious beliefs are connected to the mental health of a patient. A study carried out in 2006 using the elderly as the sample population pointed out that religion was a buffer to their lives especially against depression, especially amongst those who were of poor health. On the other end of the spectrum, those individuals who were unreligious depicted the highest levels of depression. Later in 2013, researchers discovered that those patients being treated for disorders like depression and anxiety responded well to treatment a lot when they held on their belief in God. In another literature review of related subjects, particularly the articles from the 93 studies, it was discovered that the most religious persons were responding well to treatment. The evidence suggests that there is a major correlation that exists between religion and the development of depression and anxiety. Scientists have resolved to study the effects of religion on the brain so that the mystery can be revealed.
The development of depressive and anxiety disorders is dependent on several factors. Among the factors are the genetic factors whereby an individual is at more risk of developing the disorders if their closest blood relatives developed it. Furthermore, the environment plays the most in the development of depression where those that are full of stressors can ignite the condition. The treatment of the condition might, however, imply the management of both the symptoms of anxiety and depression. Therefore, the management process should cater for both sides of the condition rather than focus on only one side leading to the proliferation of the other.
