Posts for 'Antepartum Depression ' Category

General practitioners correctly identify only about half of patients with depression, and misidentifications outnumber missed cases, according to a study published online July 28 in The Lancet.Alex J. Mitchell, of Leicester General Hospital in the United Kingdom, and colleagues conducted a meta-analysis of 41 studies that included 50,371 patients.

The researchers found that general practitioners correctly diagnosed only about 50 percent of true cases of depression and treated only 15 percent of them. They also found that general practitioners correctly ruled out depression about 80 percent of the time. In every 100 unselected cases seen in primary care, they estimated that the number of false positives (15) is higher than that for either missed cases (10) or identified cases (10).

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Approximately 32 to 35 million adults in the United States have an episode of major depression sometime during their lifetime, and many of them do not respond to initial treatment.1 The results of an analysis undertaken by Fava and Davidson2 suggest that between 29% and 46% of depressed patients fail to respond fully to antidepressant treatment of adequate dose and duration; about 15% of patients fail to respond to multiple treatment trials.3 Fagiolini and Kupfer4 have suggested that patients with treatment-resistant depression (TRD) may represent a biologically unique subtype of depressed patients. Unfortunately, the chances for full recovery diminish the longer a patient remains depressed—a fact that lends a sense of urgency for appropriate therapy.5 Before discussing the effectiveness of individual agents in TRD, it is important to review recent evidence regarding the principles of using these agents to maximize the chance of a response.6-9 Some of the most salient findings from the STAR*D trial on this topic are summarized in Table 1.

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One issue which will remain an issue for all women till menopause is Premenstrual syndrome or PMS. This is one sad thing that has neither any medication nor is unavoidable.  PMS is like a horn or a warning signboard of the forth coming danger.

According to Wikipedia,” PMS is a collection of physical, psychological and emotional symptoms related to a woman’s menstrual cycle.”While it may sound just another routine problem that is a part of a woman’s physical attribute, it is not that simple! In the first place it is the most repulsive phase of the month for a woman. The symptoms vary from irritation,  terrible mood swings, tension , depression, dysphoria(unhappiness) to headaches, backaches, stomach cramps leg cramps. for physical agony at least there are medicines that can be consumed and pain eased. But there is no solution as such to the other syndrome. Then there are hormonal changes that a woman goes through every month during her menses which is not a very pleasant thing either.This is may sound surprising but during menses most of the women have some or the other kind of craving for food.

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One of the most common psychological problems affecting nearly everyone either through personal experience or through a family member is depression. In America over 17 million adults experience a period of clinical depression each year. This illness interferes with everyday normal functioning and often causes problems with work, social and family life. The pain it causes isn't just suffered by the person with the disorder but also by their nearest and dearest. Not only can the life of the depressed person be destroyed so can the lives of those within the family.

Depression causes tremendous emotional pain and disrupts the lives of millions (directly and indirectly). It also has an impact on work productivity and absenteeism and has a negative impact on the economy, costing an estimated $44 billion each year.

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Childhood depression is a very real but sometimes elusive illness that affects the young today. We take a look at what it actually means and how unity and support in the family can help fight its hold over a child.

At the recently concluded Asia Pacific Suicide Prevention Convention 2006, we learnt a few startling facts about children and suicide. For example, in a worldwide survey, 7.3% to 38% of the children surveyed demonstrated suicide ideation, which is the idea of wanting to kill themselves. In Singapore, close to 4.7% of children entertain this morbid thought. While the figure may be alarming, there is no need to panic as it is actually not uncommon to think about suicide.

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Your new baby is here and all of the anticipation and expectation is over.  You are home with your new family, so why do you feel so bad....so sad....so inadequate?  You expected that this time with your new baby would be fun and that you would bounce back and be ready to return to your job in 6 weeks.  All of the "preparing for baby" magazines that you read in your doctor's waiting room showed those beautiful and happy new mothers going out with baby, exercising with baby and looking wonderfully blissful.  Then you look in the mirror and see you.... still in your pajamas at 3PM.  You ate breakfast but have had little after that.  You can't seem to get your schedule and the baby's to synch and you have cried several times today.  You may have more than simple baby blues, you may have full blown postpartum depression.

It is not uncommon for new mothers to feel down and overwhelmed with their new role.  50-75% of new mothers report some degree of low mood, irritability and emotional lability, but simple baby blues usually resolve in the first two weeks and things begin looking up. True postpartum depression must last more than two weeks.  A smaller percentage, 10-20%, of new mothers, will experience longer lasting and more severe symptoms of postpartum depression.  Patients with postpartum depression have significant sleep disturbances, decreased interest, guilt, low energy, inability to concentrate, poor appetite, and slowed responsiveness.  In the worst case scenario, there are suicidal thoughts that constitute a true medical emergency.

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The Presenting Problem

When Mindy got into trouble, her mother, Sharon, came to me for help. Sharon took off from work to come to the appointment but her husband did not come. That in itself was not unusual. But Sharon reported that he was not interested in dealing with the problem and she was afraid to push him.

I kept these facts in the back of my mind as I explored the family history and listened to Mindy’s hesitant description of her life at school and home. I wondered what role her parents played in her current problems. As I got to know the family better, I was finally able to convince her father to come with his wife for the benefit of their child.

Mr. P was a physically large man, with a quick smile and laid back attitude. He contrasted sharply with his wife, who was thin and tense. Mr. P denied any problems at home but a quick glance at his wife told me otherwise. Over time I learned that Mr. P was unemployed and had not worked consistently for many years. His wife worked full-time and was afraid to cut back because of the loss of benefits and the fear that they would need her salary to survive. Mr. P often overslept and left the morning routine to his wife, who was under pressure to get to work on time. She tried to get him moving but was afraid of his anger, especially in front of the children. He refused to meet with their Rabbi, although she had spoken privately to the Rabbi more than once about their situation.

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People with a family history of depression, anxiety and alcohol and drug dependence are not only likely to develop these conditions, but tend to suffer more seriously and need more treatment, a study has found.

In the nearly 30-year study in New Zealand, researchers tracked 981 people, born in 1972 or 1973, from the time they were three years old until they were 32, and collected data on their psychiatric conditions as well as those of their family members.

Between 2003 and 2005, family history data were collected about each individual's biological parents, grandparents and siblings older than 10 years.Four psychiatric disorders were studied: depression, anxiety, alcohol dependence and drug dependence, they wrote in the latest issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry.

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Discussed in this article:

1) The Quiet Crisis Within Diabetes.

2) A Hidden Danger of Diabetes.

3) Are Physicians Aware Of This Danger?

4) Does Depression Cause Diabetes?

5) The Formation of Depression Post-Hypnotic Suggestions.

6) Summary

5) Next Issue Highlights.

The Quiet Crisis Within Diabetes

Depression is a 'quiet crisis' facing diabetics, their families and their health care providers. Financially and emotionally this crisis is exacting a terrible cost.

The purpose of this and following articles is to share important information about depression and how a hypnotist can responsibly and effectively help a diabetic with depression. This assistance will help to improve a diabetic's life by (a) reducing the suffering from this painful state of mind and being and (b) thus enhance their diabetes management skills which will therefore result in a state of enhanced health.

Bear in mind the importance of your contribution as a hypnotist. You can make an incredible difference because even a small reduction in a diabetic's long term blood sugar levels can result in a marked decrease in the likelihood of diabetic complications.

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People with depression are simply not able to carry on their lives normally. Without treatment, symptoms can last for weeks, months, or years. When these symptoms become very intense, they start interfering with one’s ability to normally carry out even the daily chores. The person feels unable to do anything about it; other people need to help him out of this depressive situation. Appropriate treatment is required to help most people who suffer from depression.

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