Introduction
Major depressive disorder can be a cause for the irregular functioning of individuals depending on the severity of the case. The disorder can lead to physical, social, emotional and intellectual malfunctions in the human body. Individuals portray the effects of major depression in different ways, and the symptoms may vary depending on the circumstances that the people are exposed. The cases of depression may be prevalent in individuals of any age. The major depressive disorder tends to vary, with some of the conditions ranging in the episodes that the people experience. There are different variations of the causes of major depressive disorder, varying from family backgrounds to medical reasons; regardless, the disorder has major effects on those affected. The effects of the condition do not only affect the patient, but also the individuals with whom they interact with frequently. The management and the treatment plan for the patients is a major factor that will assist in the mitigation of the symptoms associated with the disorder. This paper will evaluate the factors related to major depressive disorder and the effects and mitigation strategies available for the patients.
Causes of Major Depressive Disorder
The prevalence of depression can cause a major deterioration of the health of an individual, which may lead to life-threatening effects. There are various factors that play a role in the onset ofa major depressive disorder. The progression of the condition is dependent on the time taken before treating the individual. Women are twice as likely to suffer from major depressive disorder, and the implications of the disease may cause significant impairment on the individual. Kupfer, Frank and Phillips (2012) highlight that depression does affect a patient’s health, and may be worse than chronic diseases. Determining the cause of the depression will be an effective way of managing the situation. There are varied causes of the situation, which may be mitigated depending on the factor that led to the patient being depressed.
There is varying uncertainty on the causes of major depressive disorder, but there are some factors that are involved for an individual to be diagnosed with depression. Xu et al., (2013) state there is a multiplicity of factors that predispose an individual to depression. According to the authors, the culture and the upbringing of a person plays a critical role in the influence of health decisions, which affects the steps taken in seeking medical assistance. The beliefs and attitudes of the individuals have an implication on the strategy undertaken in giving appropriate support to mental health patients. The physical development of individuals may in some cases lead to depression, based on the kind of treatment they receive in the community and medically.
Another cause of depression may be associated with the health conditions of an individual. Egede and Zheng (2003) state that a condition such as diabetes may have an effect on the psychological health of an individual, and this would be a precursor to depression. According to the research, lifestyle choices that the individuals make play a critical role in the development of a depressive disorder. The poor health factor is known to lead individuals to make significant life changes, which then affects their mental and psychological health. In the example of the case of depression among diabetic patients, it can be noted that the stress of the diagnosis and the maintenance of the disease plays a role in the lead to the psychological condition. In addition, the biochemical changes that are related to the medication that the patients take may alter their emotional well-being, which in turn affects their mental health. The assessment of both physical and psychological health is critical in ensuring that the patient receives the appropriate and efficient care.
The onset of major depressive disorder can be attributed to various independent factors that may in turn affect the emotional and psychological health of the individual. With an increase of health issues for the individuals, the depression factor is mostly associated with the issues that the individuals face when undergoing treatment. Major depressive disorder can be diagnosed based on the health issues that are facing the individuals, which also plays a major role in the management of the disorder. The evaluation of the psychological factors that play a role based on the deterioration of health is a factor that needs to be assessed in the healthcare management. Having effective diagnosis will assist in ensuring that the management of the disorder is effectively managed.
The dependence on alcohol and drugs may also lead to the onset of major depressive disorder. The substance-induced depression affects individuals based on the level of intake of the substance, which in most cases, is usually alcohol. The abuse of alcohol, for instance, triggers depression symptoms such as sadness and hopelessness, while some of the individuals may take alcohol to numb the feelings they are going through. In this case, it can be noted that the substance abuse and depression are conditions that feed on each other, which in turn, implies that one of the conditions makes the other worse. Hettema, Prescott and Kendler (2003) indicate that the evaluation of the symptoms that the patient is exhibiting is a major factor in the management of the depressive behavior. The assessment of the patterns of drug abuse is critical to ensuring that the patients get the required treatment for the condition.
The age factor is another issue that may lead to an individual exhibiting the symptoms of depression. Zisook et al., (2007) address the issue of age playing a crucial role in the onset of major depressive disorder. With the different age groups, individuals are exposed to varying pressures from society, which affect the way through which they function. The research by Zisook et al., (2007) indicates that different pressures from the society play a critical role in making individuals have depressive symptoms, which leads to them being depressed when not living life as expected of them. Furthermore, the age factor can be noted in the changes in the medical aspect of an individual. The older an individual gets and his or her health deteriorates, the more exposed the person is to medicine, which affects the mental health of the individual.
Symptoms of Major Depressive Disorder
The evaluation of the symptoms of the individuals undergoing depression may be based on the signs that the person emulates on a particular period. Common symptoms of depression include the feelings of anxiety and hopelessness, loss of appetite and in turn weight loss, loss of energy, aches, and pains, insomnia or sleeping for prolonged periods of time, lack of concentration on simple tasks and having a sense of worthlessness. If an individual eludes some of the mentioned symptoms, it is highly likely that they are suffering from depression. According to Whited et al., (2014), the severity of one of the factors is a predisposition to the development of the other issues in the patient. According to the study presented by the researchers, the loss of weight may trigger other factors that will lead to the development of different reactions from the patient.
Denninger et al., (2006) argue the highly prevalent symptoms in major depression disorder are physical and somatic symptoms. The physical symptoms such as headaches and weight loss are some of the factors that should be observed in the management of the condition. The aspect of somatic symptoms can be linked to the medical background of the individual and the healthcare exposure that they have. With the evaluation of the symptoms, it is important that the individuals seek care if some of the symptoms are repeatedly visible in the patient. The management of the symptoms is one of the most important factors that will assist in the cure for the patient, as there is a need for proper analysis to avoid remission. Constant care should be placed on the patients in order to ensure that the signs and symptoms are not missed during the diagnosis, which influences the success of the treatment process of the individual.
The detection of symptoms in depression may be done through the assessment of the physical health of the patient. Denninger et al., (2006) further acknowledge that the lack of air in some cases, poor eating habits, feeling pressure in the head and body, weakness or heaviness of the arms and legs are also signs that an individual may show. A feeling of anger and hostility by a person who does not portray the characteristics is another way of learning some of the factors that may indicate depression in an individual. When a person exhibits the symptoms that have been reported, it is important that the opinion of a medical practitioner is takeninto consideration when seeking treatment.
Management and Treatment of the Condition
The diagnosis of the patient plays a major role in the management and treatment of the condition of the person under observation. Cases of over-detection and in some instances, under-detection, have an implication on the treatment plan that will be given to the patient. The management of the issues is important in ensuring there is a limitation in the chances that the major depressive disorder will occur in the patient. The presence of some of the factors may lead to the misdiagnosis of the patient, which has an implication for the treatment of the individual. Having specified diagnosis of the patient is an important factor in understanding the treatment plan, which will further assist in giving the category of the level of depression and how to mitigate the situation. Efficient and accurate diagnostics will lead to the patient having the appropriate care that is needed for the individual. The management and treatment of major depressive disorder may take effect based on the clinical and psychological options available to the patient.
The treatment of major depressive disorder can vary depending on the severity of the case of the patient. Some of the major factors that are incorporated in the treatment of the patient include medication and therapy. Based on the treatment plan, there are different outcomes that the patients may have depending on the methods that have been undertaken. Having psychiatric treatment is one of the most efficient ways of managing the condition, depending on the symptoms of the patient. In the treatment of depression, it is important that the caregiver and the patient establish the primary cause of the condition, to get a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for the patient. In the selected treatment method, it is important there is an establishment of a follow-up plan that will allow the patient to recover without remission. Some instances enable the use of both psychiatric and medical combination of treatment, depending on the extremity of the case.
The first step in the management and treatment of depressed patients is through conducting a psychiatric assessment that will assist in the proper diagnosis. The evaluation of the present situation and the symptoms of the individual will help in the evaluation of the severity of the case. The mental health of the patient, current and historical, will also play a role in the selection of the management strategy of the condition. With the assessment of the medical history, the factor will establish whether the patient has been on medication in the past, which may have triggered the current situation. The medical background will indicate whether the patient’s medical history has played a role in the present state of the matter. Understanding the behavioral patterns of individuals is an important factor in the management of the process and ensuring that the patient makes a full recovery. Kupfer, Frank and Phillips (2012) state the extremity of the signs that the patients show will affect the treatment plan that is set in place.
The social relations of the patient will assist in the establishment of factors that may have led to the diagnosis depression. History of substance abuse is a key element in establishing ways to which treatment will be administered. The history of drug addiction and treatment has an effect on the plan that will be selected in the management of the situation. The personal history of the patient will indicate his or her psychological development and the responses to the different life situations and major life events. The social structure of the individual will assist in the establishment of a treatment plan for the patient. The risk that the patient is exposed to is a major factor in influencing the plan for the recovery of the patient.
In most cases, the management and treatment of major depressive disorder are done with psychotherapy. The treatment aspect will mostly depend on the symptoms of the patient. Clinical treatment of the condition will depend on the factors that led to the patient being depressed in the first place. David, Frank and Phillips (2012) state that medically treated depression should be followed up with the appropriate care and monitoring of the patient. As indicated earlier, depression and substance abuse have an association whereby one of the factors will have an implication on the other; therefore, the need to monitor the patient is critical. After the administration of medication, it is important that the patient is monitored as the medicine may have a variation of effects, including suicidal tendencies.
Conclusion
The evaluation of the symptoms and ways through which the patients exhibit depression patterns may be effective in understanding the causes and giving the appropriate treatment to individuals. The condition has various ways through which the effects manifest themselves, which drives the need to take care of the patients. Major depressive disorder is a factor that has an implication on the psychological and physical health of an individual, which may affect the daily lives of the affected person. Additionally, close relatives and friends of the patient are affected, and there is a possibility of transference to these individuals if the condition is unchecked. In most cases, depression is misdiagnosed, especially on the level of severity of the condition. The variation of the mitigation and treatment plans will depend on the factors that the patient has been exposed. In the treatment of the depressive disorder, it is important that the patient is monitored through the recovery process, which will assist in the limitation of future remission. Furtherance, after the treatment plan is complete, a review schedule should be established to monitor the patient to ensure he or she is not exposed to conditions that caused the depression previously. Major depressive disorder affects individuals in different extents; therefore, it is important to ensure that the appropriate treatment plan is undertaken.
In giving care to patients diagnosed with the condition, it is important that the care given to the patient’s matches the diagnosis and that the cause of the problem is established. Having an affective system of providing care is important in ensuring that the patients have been established. In giving the cure to the patients, it is important that the caregivers ensure that the initial factors that led to the disorder are mitigated in order to limit the chances of remission. The management of the factors play an important role in the prevention of the factor having a repeat occurrence. Continued observation of the patient will assist in the management of the issue through proper guidance. Adequate research needs to be conducted when providing the care and assistance to the patients and for future research.
References
Denninger, J. W., et al. (2006). Somatic symptoms in outpatients with major depressive disorder treated with fluoxetine. Psychosomatics, 47(4), 348-52.
Egede, L. E., & Zheng, D. (2003). Independent factors associated with major depressive disorder in a national sample of individuals with diabetes. Diabetes Care, 26(1), 104-11.
Hettama, J. M., Prescott, C. A., & Kendler, K. S. (2003). The effects of anxiety, substance use and conduct disorders on risk of major depressive disorder. Psychological Medicine, 33(8), 1423-32.
Kupfer, D. J., Frank, E., & Phillips, M. L. (2012). Major depressive disorder: New clinical, neurobiological, and treatment perspectives. The Lancet, 379(9820), 1045-55.
Whited, M. C., Schneider, K. L., Appelhans, B. M., Ma, Y., Waring, M. E., DeBiasse, M. A., Pagoto, S. Let al,. (2014). Severity of depressive symptoms and accuracy of dietary reporting among obese women with major depressive disorder seeking weight loss treatment. PLoS One, 9(2), e90361.
Xu, M., Zou, L., Wilde, A., Meiser, B., Barlow-Stewart, K., Chan, B., Schofield, P. Ret al,. (2013). Exploring culture-specific differences in beliefs about causes, kinship and the heritability of major depressive disorder: The views of Anglo-Celtic and Chinese-Australians. Journal of Genetic Counseling, 22(5), 613-24.
Zisook, S., Lesser, I., Stewart, J. W., Wisniewski, S. R., & al, e. (2007). Effect of age at onset on the course of major depressive disorder. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 164(10), 1539-46.
