Clinical depression: what is it, symptoms, causes, treatment

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Clinical depression is a fairly common disease that can occur in people of any age and requires medical treatment. With this condition, a person is constantly in a depressed mood, loses the pleasure of communication, perhaps the development of suicidal thoughts.

What is thissuch for

disease Clinical depression, or as it is also called a major depressive disorder, is a prolonged painful physical and mental condition. The disease proceeds with waves of different sequence. After a deep depression of mood there comes a little relief, and then again everything repeats. Such state changes can occur both in the daily range and longer intervals.

Important! A person ceases to enjoy life and communication with others. Depression occurs usually in adulthood, but it can be observed in children and in adolescents.

The main causes of the disease

It is believed that this depressive disorder is often formed in people with a genetic predisposition and mental pathologies.

In addition, there are other factors that cause this disease.

1. Hormonal imbalance. Clinical depression can develop due to a decrease in the number of neurotransmitters. As a result, there is a delayed formation of nerve impulses, and as a result, a person ceases to feel positive emotions. Usually hormonal disorders are caused by menopause, pathologies of the endocrine system, severe somatic disorders, pregnancy.
2. Cognitive causes. A depressed state can be caused by an erroneous evaluation of one's life, as well as those around them. Often people with lowered self-esteem, negative stereotypes or, on the contrary, with overstated requirements suffer from depression.
3. Situational factors. Severe life problems can provoke clinical depression. Often the disease develops after a traumatic advent in life. Such an event can be a divorce, death of a loved one, dismissal, moving.
4. Social factors. Constant anxiety can be caused by material displeasure, domestic problems. These factors significantly reduce a person's self-esteem and can trigger depression. Stressful situations regular overstrain of the nervous system leads to its exhaustion, the level of sensitivity decreases. A person becomes irritable, can be upset over trifles, and almost does not feel positive emotions.

Severe somatic conditions. The loss of social status, soreness, restriction of movement very negatively affect the state of the nervous system. Depression is common in people with cardiovascular pathologies, oncological diseases, diabetes, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's.

Sexual affiliation in the female half of humanity, this condition is more common than in men. The reason for this can serve as hormonal changes or stress caused by the numerous responsibilities and concerns of women.

As well as clinical depression may be triggered by the taking of certain medicines.

Symptoms of clinical depression

Symptoms of the disease appear due to interruptions in impulse transmission in the brain. The severity of symptoms directly depends on the severity of the condition and the patient's personal characteristics.

How to identify clinical depression? The following characteristic symptoms of this condition can be distinguished.

1. Loss of interests. In this state, a person loses interest in everything. He is not drawn to entertainment and likes previous occupations. With a severe course of the disease people complain about the absolute absence of any feelings, the feeling that they are separated from the world by a solid wall.
2. Sudden mood reduction. The patient feels helpless, useless and useless. He is constantly in an oppressed mood. Loss of meaning in life and suicidal thoughts may develop, self-esteem decreases, a feeling of fear arises. As a result, the patient becomes timid and indecisive.
3. Physical symptoms. As the disease develops, the patient's state of health worsens, appetite disappears, weakness is felt, sleep is disturbed, and working capacity decreases. The patient is tormented by headaches, his thinking slows down noticeably, it becomes difficult for him to perform his usual duties.
4. Behavior change. In this condition, the patient's behavior changes markedly. He suddenly becomes withdrawn, avoids people, refuses to communicate. There may be an inadequate response to the habitual situation: the patient may burst into tears, show irritation or aggression.

Clinical - how is it different from ordinary depression?

Normal - this is any dreary, bad and depressed mood. And in clinical form, the patient's condition deteriorates rather quickly. At the beginning of the disease, the patient is not paid special attention, writing off for fatigue. However, after a few days, his condition may suddenly deteriorate: the patient ceases to leave the apartment, eat, talk or do something.

Important! In severe cases, suicide attempts, severe mental disorders, hallucinations and delusions may occur.

To which doctor should

In case of the slightest symptoms, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor. For the statement of the exact diagnosis it is recommended to consult with the following specialists:

1. Psychotherapist. This specialist will help find the cause of the depressive disorder and learn techniques for strengthening the psyche.
2. Neuropathologist or psychiatrist. An experienced and qualified doctor is able to make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe a treatment.

This condition requires drug treatment therefore, it is very important to diagnose the disease in a timely manner.

Diagnosis of the disease

To appoint an effective treatment, it is necessary to diagnose the disease in a timely manner.

An important method for identifying the disease and determining the severity level is the WHO questionnaire. Clinical depression is very easily diagnosed when talking to a psychiatrist. After listening to the patient's complaints, he is able to identify the signs and make a diagnosis.

Recently, the method of measuring the concentration of biomarkers in the blood is used to confirm the diagnosis.

Treatment of the disease

Treatment of the disease should be under the strict supervision of a specialist.

Important! Usually self-treatment ends unsuccessfully or causes an aggravation of the condition.

For effective treatment, the following methods are used:

1. Psychotherapy.
2. Medication.

Special attention is required for clinical depression during pregnancy. After the examination, the doctor will determine how to treat this condition.

Drugs from depression

The most effective medicines can be divided into the following groups:

1. Antidepressants. Preparations of this group promote the increase in the brain number of neurotransmitters, thereby helping to get rid of the following signs of the disease: motor retardation, apathy, mood decline. But these drugs work as they accumulate in the body. The result of treatment will be visible in 10-20 days.
2. Normotimiki. Helps reduce the activity of the nervous system as a result of normalizing its condition and significantly improves the mood of the patient. To accelerate the therapeutic effect appointed in conjunction with antidepressants.
3. Tranquilizers. These drugs can relieve the patient of feelings of fear, anxiety, normalize appetite and sleep.

Important! Taking this medication can cause addiction, so it should be prescribed by a doctor.

1. Neuroleptics. Preparations of this group slow down the transmission of impulses in the brain, thereby exerting a retarding effect on the nervous system. Appointed in an aggressive state, hallucinations and delirium.

Important! When appointing medical therapy, the doctor takes into account the age of the patient.

In some situations, treatment of folk remedies is prescribed to help drugs.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy is a necessary method of treating a depressed state. It helps the sick person to understand the root causes that caused the formation of such a condition, improve it and prevent the recurrence of the disease. For this, various methods are used: hypnosis, behavioral and humanistic therapy, psychoanalysis.

Prevention

The following preventive measures will help prevent the disease:

• is an active way of life;
• timely treatment of any diseases;
• uniform alternation of work and leisure;

Timely treatment of the doctor with the slightest symptoms of depression will also help to avoid dangerous consequences.

Prognosis of the disease

Treatment of this condition helps to reduce symptoms in a few months. Medical research has shown that in a number of cases a repressive state occurs. If the symptoms of the disease were not fully cured, then there is a possibility of relapse.
Such patients need constant treatment to avoid worsening of the condition.

The correct diagnosis, timely treatment, strict adherence to all prescriptions of the doctor will help get rid of the disease.

What is dangerous for clinical depression?

In such a depressed state the patient is able to lose work and communication with others. Difficulties that caused a depressive state can lead a patient to suicide. Treatment reduces the possibility of consequences and the risk of suicide.

In clinical depression, timely diagnosis and treatment is very important. Usually medication in combination with psychotherapy quickly return the patient to normal life.