Diagnosis and Treatment Free Essays

For many Americans it is difficult to come to terms with any type of medical diagnosis. Some may know the warning signs and simply ignore them. Unfortunately mental disorders have plagued many people for years. We will write a custom essay sample on Diagnosis and Treatment or any similar topic only for you Order Now Going without diagnosis and treatment can have devastating effects to themselves and their families. According to the National Institute of Mental Health â€Å"Approximately 20.9 million American adults, or about 9.5 percent of the U.S. population age 18 and older in a given year, have a mood disorder† (NIMH, 2009). These disorders come in several forms and can have many different warning signs. For some these signs or symptoms can be mild and for others the signs are immediately noticed. â€Å"Mood disorders are characterized by disturbances in mood or prolonged emotional state sometimes referred to as affect.† (Psychological Disorders, 2010) Because everyone has their own mental capacity it can be difficult for a professional to diagnose. Some people can’t cry unless it is a highly emotional situation, others can cry at the first sign of emotional distress. While others may show anger in a stressful situation and some may feel the tendency to laugh. These are all nature human behaviors; each of these emotions can also be signs or symptoms of mood disorders. Because these signs and symptoms are so broad and are also specific to several different mood disorders they can be misdiagnosed for years. The range of mood disorders can vary but there are significant signs and symptoms to look for. For some with mood disorders they have extreme highs and lows, meaning that they are extremely happy one minute and can be extremely sad the next. In patients with depression you may see that the â€Å"person feels overwhelmed with sadness; they may have loss of interest in activities and display other symptoms such as guilt or feelings of worthlessness.† (Psychological disorders, 2010) According to the National Institute for Mental Health â€Å"Major Depressive Disorder is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. for ages 15-44† (NIMH, 2009) These patients usually have experienced the loss of happiness in everyday life. They may be your co-worker, family or friend who has issues with concentration, sleep, or has become reclusive. Even though depression is a mood disorder in itself, there are several forms of depression. Generalized depression is the person who has become withdrawn from life; they may sleep too much or not enough. Another form of depression is clinical depression; this form is much more severe and can be deadly. Unfortunately â€Å"depressed people may be plagues by suicidal thoughts or may even attempt suicide.† (Psychological disorders, 2010) Apart of the signs and symptoms of clinical depression is that the down feel does not go away after time. Those with clinical depression stay depressed; they are unhappy and have moments of extreme depression. â€Å"Some depressions can be so intense that people become psychotic-that is, they lose touch with reality.† (Psychological disorders, 2010). This form can make people believe in a false reality. They often feel as though everyone is out to get them or that they are being subjected to inhuman activities. Depression can be treated in many ways depending on the severity of the disease. There are many drugs out on the market today to help with the symptoms of depression. Generalized depression has become a popular trend in commercial marketing. The signs and symptoms are often discussed and the public is educated on talking to their physician if they may have any of the signs of symptoms that are listed in the commercials. Because of the frequency of these commercials more and more people have followed the trend and are speaking to their physicians about the possibility of depression. According to the CDC â€Å"approximately 15.7% more people were diagnosis with depression or related diagnosis in 2006 compared to 2005.† (CDC, 2006) Some studies may suggest that the increase in diagnosis is directly related to the public awareness brought forth by the commercial campaigns to promote new medication to treat depression. The treatment for many forms of depression is through various forms of medication. These forms of medication are often referred to as antidepressants. The compounding for these drugs are typically neurotransmitters or inhibiters. Some help to produce or block particular chemicals in the brain that are possible causes for particular forms of depression. Counseling can also help those that are suffering the effects of depression. For some counseling may be prescribed with or without the assistance of medication. Speaking to a medical professional about the diagnosis of depression can help each patient to be individually treated for the symptoms of the depressive disorder. Even though the public has a higher level of awareness when it comes to depressive disorders it is still important to seek advice from a medical profession. Reference http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/the-numbers-count-mental-disorders-in-america/index.shtml How to cite Diagnosis and Treatment, Essay examples Diagnosis and Treatment Free Essays There are many psychological disorders which can cause people distress. Depression is one of the most common psychological disorders; throughout this paper, I will explain some of the causes of depression as well as symptoms and possible treatments. Depression is explained as a mood disorder that is characterized by overwhelming feelings of sadness, lack of interest in activities, and sometimes excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness. We will write a custom essay sample on Diagnosis and Treatment or any similar topic only for you Order Now While everyone may feel depressed every now and then, not everyone will be diagnosed with clinical depression. People who have been diagnosed with clinical depression not only have the sad and empty feelings, they can have significant problems carrying on a normal lifestyle. The mental-health professionals look to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV-RT) which provides the framework for making the distinction between clinical depression and depression. A person must have at least five of the following symptoms, including at least one of the first two: depressed mood, loss of interest in pleasure, significant weight loss or gain, sleep disturbances, disturbances in motor activities, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, inability to concentrate, and recurrent thoughts of death. If these symptoms are present and are not due to any other medical conditions, a person will typically be diagnosed with major depression. There can be several causes for depression. Genetics can play a factor in the mood disorder; if a parent has a chemical imbalance, it is possible for the chemical imbalance to be passed down to their child or children. Psychological factors such as an awful experience as a child can play a role in depression. One other possible cause for depression is the social factor; an example of this is loss or unresolved grief. There are several forms of treatments for depression if a person wants the help. Seeing a psychologist or psychiatrist for therapy can be useful; although there are many forms of therapy, finding the right form of therapy is necessary. A therapy that may be helpful is client-centered therapy. Client therapy is explained as a nondirectional form of therapy which calls for unconditional positive regard of the client by the therapist with the goal of helping the client become fully functional. This form of therapy is called client-centered therapy because it places the responsibility for change on the person with the problems. Behavior therapy is another form of therapy that may be useful. Behavior therapy is based on the belief that all behavior is learned, and the object of therapy is to teach people new, more satisfying ways of behaving. To get over depression, behavior therapy can help a person learn new ways of handling loss and other hard situations people may be going through. Some techniques used may be classical conditioning, aversive conditioning, modeling, and operant conditioning. Drug therapy or antidepressants such as, Paxil, Welbutrin, Zoloft, Effexor, or Prozac may help as well. These tend to help people who have a chemical imbalance because these drugs work by reducing the uptake of serotonin in the nervous system, then increasing the concentration of serotonin active in the brain; however, people on these drugs should be monitored by health professionals as well as they may have some side effects. Finally, some people prefer to try herbal remedies to help with depression issues. Some people who have tried the drug therapy and were not able to find relief they want, have tried pills such as 5-HTP and St. John’s Wort, taken along with antioxidants. People who are taking these pills should also stay in contact with their health professionals and follow all directions closely. Depression can be a very serious disease; people who are suffering from depression may not realize it until it is too late. If a family member or friend believes someone they know might have a problem with depression, they should urge the person to speak to someone about the problem. While all of the treatments I spoke about previously can be helpful, the best way for a person to find the help that will work best for them is to speak to their health-care professional. Each person will need individualized help and may have to try several different therapies or drugs before finding the right combination for them. Reference Axia College of University of Phoenix. (2008). Psychology: An Introduction (12th ed.). Retrieved March 24, 2008, from Axia College, Week Eight reading, aXcess, BEH225- Introduction to Behavioral Science Course Web site. How to cite Diagnosis and Treatment, Papers