DEPRESSION

Depression



Depression

Introduction

Depression is common emotional disorder that manifests itself with such feelings as feelings of depression, hopelessness, helplessness, guilt, self-criticism, declining interest in foreign activity. Depression, with a point prevalence of approximately 6% during adolescence puts youth at major risk for adverse outcomes, including psychosocial difficulties; drug and alcohol abuse; academic problems; early parenthood; sociality; and adult depression.1-6 to date, antidepressant medications and psychotherapy has shown to be effective in the treatment of pediatric depression.

Problem Statement

Family-Based Approaches for Youth Depression

Evidence suggests that treating the distressed family member (eg, parent, youth) may result in improvements depressive symptoms in other individuals in the family. In addition, maternal depressive symptoms decreased as the children treated for depression. Therefore, treating the depressed individual and/or treating the family have shown to be beneficial.

Adolescent Depression and the Family

Adolescence is an important period during the lifespan, with specific challenging developmental tasks. The youth is striving for more independence and autonomy, which often creates tension with parents and caregivers who try to set boundaries to limit risk. Another challenge in the family is the youth's desire to spend increased time developing social relationships outside of the family context. (Birmaher, 2005).

Depression in youth affects families in innumerable ways. Extant data have shown that child depression and parental depression are often co-occurring in families.8-10 In addition, families of depressed youth may display communication problems; low levels of family cohesion and support; excessive control, and increased conflict. Family dysfunction, including high levels of the negative effect, conflict, and hostility, associated with depressive illness. Some of these factors include family variables, such as parent-child consecutiveness and active parent supervision; school variables, such as high academic expectations and strong ties to the school; and cultural variables, such as religious or cultural beliefs against suicide.

Symptoms

Depression can be triggered by stressful events like the break-up of a relationship or financial trouble. The doctor should get a complete history of symptoms, including when they started, how long they have lasted, and how bad they are. He or she should also know whether they have occurred before, and if so, how they are treated. Sometimes there are specific situations a person is worried about, and sometimes anxiety happens for no reason. Anxiety can have physical symptoms, such as:

rapid heart rate

difficulty catching your breath

sweating

nausea or stomach ache

trembling or shaking

feeling dizzy or lightheaded

Depression can be described as feeling sad and upset. Like anxiety, depression can come about because of a certain situation, or it can happen for no reason. Everyone sometimes feels sad, but these feelings usually pass after a few days. It is a serious illness, and most women who have it need treatment to get better. Other symptoms of depression can include:

feeling hopeless

loss of energy

feeling worthless or guilty

feeling either restless or slowed down

feeling irritable or angry

problems with concentrating

being easily tearful

losing interest or feeling no enjoyment from activities you once liked

changes in appetite, either increased or decreased

Changes in sleep either increased ...