Masked Depression: What It Is, Symptoms, Treatment

Depressive states do not always manifest themselves only as changes in behavior, mood swings. Often, the symptoms of the disease are hidden behind somatic diseases, which indicates the development of masked depression. How can the disease be recognized in time? What methods are used in therapy?

Depression masked - what is it?

Masked depression of a neurotic character is a chronic disease in which pain syndrome of incomprehensible etiology, signs of somatic pathologies is manifested. Most often, patients complain of blood pressure changes, pain in the heart, migraine, disruption of the digestive tract.

The main reason for the appearance of a depressive state is a decrease in the concentration of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline. These hormones are responsible for a good mood, positive emotions, with their low number of people can not experience joy and a sense of pleasure.

Causes of development of masked depression:

• genetic factor - depression is often hereditary;
• hormonal imbalance - endocrine diseases, long-term use of steroid drugs, pregnancy, menopause, pubertal period;
• constant nervous overexertion - with frequent stresses in the body, substances that block the action of pleasure hormones are actively being produced;
• radical changes in negative life - divorce, dismissal, loss of loved ones.

Depressive conditions are often seasonal, which is associated with a decrease in the duration of daylight hours. Provoke severe depression, severe avitaminosis, chronic lack of sleep, a sedentary lifestyle - all these factors weaken the nervous system, can not withstand stress.

Important! The main danger of masked depression is the complexity of diagnosis. Patients can be treated for a long time from various specialists, not wanting to recognize the presence of psychological problems.

The concept of masked depression in psychiatric practice exists not so long ago, according to the ICD-10, this disease is not singled out as a separate group. Although diagnose it in almost every fifth patient with neurological disorders.

The main symptoms of the disease

The oppression, apathy, desire for solitude - a symptom of masked depression is not. Hidden depressive states almost always manifest themselves as physical diseases, so the signs of the disease are called masks.

Patients with latent depression can be treated for a long time from headaches, digestive problems, hypertension, muscle clamps and pains in the spine. Against the background of a depressed condition, often begin to malfunction in the menstrual cycle, there are dermatological diseases, fainting. At the same time, analyzes and results of instrumental research do not show the presence of any pathological abnormalities.

Signs of latent depression:

• VSD;
• increased pressure without other manifestations of hypertension;
• osteochondrosis - often occurs in the cervical spine;
• stomach pain, diarrhea, constipation;
• bulimia, anorexia.

Important! Not always such diseases are caused by a neurological disorder. But if you can not find the cause of the disease, the therapeutic effect after taking medications is not, then you need to seek advice from a therapist.

With neurological disorders, sleep is disturbed, appetite may increase, phobias often occur. Often people with hidden depression become workaholics, constantly trying to find a new occupation - stresses, lack of sleep only exacerbate the problem. Masked depressive states can manifest themselves in the form of frequent spontaneous purchases, such people develop narcotic and alcohol dependence, the craving for coffee and cigarettes increases.

Treatment of masked depression by medicines

A psychiatrist or a psychotherapist can completely relieve a person from masked depression. Treatment is carried out in a complex - medical therapy is combined with various methods of psychocorrection - art therapy, rational, behavioral, psychotherapy. In addition, it is possible to treat homeopathy - the specialist will select the drugs that will help calm down, eliminate nervous excitement.

The main groups of drugs for the treatment of masked depression:

1. Antidepressants - Simbalta, Venlafaxine, Fluoxetine. They are designed to eliminate the shortage of serotonin. Modern medicines have a minimum number of side effects, do not cause addiction.
2. Tranquilizers - Lorazepam, Tavor. Preparations are intended to eliminate phobias and anxiety. They are very effective, but slow down the reaction rate, can be addictive.
3. Nootropics - Nootropil, Glycine, succinic acid. Are intended for improvement of processes of an exchange in fabrics of a brain, filling of deficiency of nutrients and oxygen. The effectiveness of them is not proven, the drugs are used only as an auxiliary medicine.
4. Vitamin complexes that contain folic acid, vitamin B6, calcium pantothenate. Beneficially affect the nervous system, help the body resist stress.

Important! Correctly selected treatment allows to eliminate the manifestation of the disease in 4-5 weeks, but experts recommend continuing medication for 3-6 months.

Amitriptyline is often treated to eliminate depressive conditions. This antidepressant is used to eliminate anxiety conditions, improve sleep quality, it helps to eliminate pain syndrome. Advantages - high efficiency combined with low price. Disadvantages - a large number of adverse reactions, among which temporary worsening of visual acuity, upset of the chair, tremor, disturbance of the heart rhythm.

Treatment with folk remedies

When treating the subdepressive state or masked depression, treatment with alternative medicine methods is allowed, provided they are reasonably combined with medications.

Simple and affordable remedy for neurological disorders - fresh carrot juice. It is necessary in the middle of the day and before drinking to drink 200 ml of the drink with the addition of 5 ml of honey. The duration of therapy is 4-5 weeks. In addition, you need to eat 2-3 bananas every day.

Ginseng has a sedative effect, restores the nervous system, gives strength. For the preparation of alcohol tincture, you need to pour 500 g of ground root with 500 ml of vodka, put it in a dark place for 7-10 days. Strain, take 25 drops before each meal, can be diluted in a small amount of water.

To eliminate chronic fatigue, it is necessary to prepare a mixture of the following components:

• peel of one lemon;
• crushed cloves - 1 g;
• nutmeg - 3 g;
• lemon balm - 10 g;
• vodka - 1 liter.

Chopped zest, mixed with the rest of the ingredients, removed to a dark place for 4 weeks, shake well daily. Take in a strained form of 5 ml once a day, before the medicine must be diluted in a small amount of water.

Why, under equal conditions, do some people develop depression, but others do not? Doctors have not yet found an unambiguous answer to this question. But the treatment of the disease must begin as early as possible, the pathology can quickly acquire a chronic form. Chronic depressive conditions can lead to the development of serious pathologies, often in patients there are thoughts of suicide.