DEPRESSION (MAJOR

DEPRESSIVE DISORD
ER)
NAME- SAKSHI BHANSALI
GUIDED BY- ASRA MAM
DEPARTMENT- PSHYCHIATRY
 WHAT IS DEPRESSION?

Depression is a mood disorder that causes feelings of sadness that won't go away. Unfortunately, there's a lot of stigma
around depression. Depression isn't a weakness or a character flaw. It's not about being in a bad mood, and people who
experience depression can't just snap out of it. Depression is a common, serious, and treatable condition. If you're experiencing
depression, you're not alone. It honestly affects people of all ages and races and biological sexes, income levels and educational
backgrounds. Approximately one in six people will experience a major depressive episode at some point in their lifetime, while
up to 16 million adults each year suffer from clinical depression. There are many types of symptoms that make up depression.
Emotionally, you may feel sad or down or irritable or even apathetic. Physically, the body really slows down. You feel tired. Your
sleep is often disrupted. It's really hard to get yourself motivated. Your thinking also changes. It can just be hard to concentrate.
Your thoughts tend to be much more negative. You can be really hard on yourself, feel hopeless and helpless about things. And
even in some cases, have thoughts of not wanting to live. Behaviorally, you just want to pull back and withdraw from others,
activities, and day-to-day responsibilities. These symptoms all work together to keep you trapped in a cycle of depression.
Symptoms of depression are different for everyone. Some symptoms may be a sign of another disorder or medical condition.
That's why it's important to get an accurate diagnosis.
 WHAT CAUSES DEPRESSION?

While there's no single cause of depression, most experts believe there's a combination of biological,
social, and psychological factors that contribute to depression risk. Biologically, we think about genetics or a
family history of depression, health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or thyroid disorders, and even
hormonal changes that happen over the lifespan, such as pregnancy and menopause. Changes in brain
chemistry, especially disruptions in neurotransmitters like serotonin, that play an important role in regulating
many bodily functions, including mood, sleep, and appetite, are thought to play a particularly important role in
depression. Socially stressful and traumatic life events, limited access to resources such as food, housing, and
health care, and a lack of social support all contribute to depression risk. Psychologically, we think of how
negative thoughts and problematic coping behaviors, such as avoidance and substance use, increase our
vulnerability to depression.
 SYMPTOMS
• Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness or
hopelessness
• Angry outbursts, irritability or frustration, even
over small matters
• Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal
activities, such as sex, hobbies or sports
• Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or
sleeping too much
• Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks
take extra effort
• Reduced appetite and weight loss or increased
cravings for food and weight gain
• Anxiety, agitation or restlessness
• Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on
past failures or self-blame
• Trouble thinking, concentrating, making
decisions and remembering things
• Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death,
suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide
• Unexplained physical problems, such as back
pain or headaches
 CAUSES

• Biological differences. People with depression appear to have physical changes in their brains. The significance of
these changes is still uncertain, but may eventually help pinpoint causes.
• Brain chemistry. Neurotransmitters are naturally occurring brain chemicals that likely play a role in depression.
Recent research indicates that changes in the function and effect of these neurotransmitters and how they interact
with neurocircuits involved in maintaining mood stability may play a significant role in depression and its treatment.
• Hormones. Changes in the body's balance of hormones may be involved in causing or triggering depression.
Hormone changes can result with pregnancy and during the weeks or months after delivery (postpartum) and from
thyroid problems, menopause or a number of other conditions.
• Inherited traits. Depression is more common in people whose blood relatives also have this condition. Researchers
are trying to find genes that may be involved in causing depression.
 RISK FACTORS

• Certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem and being too dependent, self-critical or pessimistic
• Traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death or loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or financial
problems
• Blood relatives with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism or suicide
• Being lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender, or having variations in the development of genital organs that aren't clearly male or female
(intersex) in an unsupportive situation
• History of other mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorder, eating disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Abuse of alcohol or recreational drugs
• Serious or chronic illness, including cancer, stroke, chronic pain or heart disease
• Certain medications, such as some high blood pressure medications or sleeping pills (talk to your doctor before stopping any
medication)
 DIAGNOSIS

• Physical exam. Your doctor may do a physical exam and ask questions about your health. In some cases,
depression may be linked to an underlying physical health problem.
• Lab tests. For example, your doctor may do a blood test called a complete blood count or test your thyroid to make
sure it's functioning properly.
• Psychiatric evaluation. Your mental health professional asks about your symptoms, thoughts, feelings and behavior
patterns. You may be asked to fill out a questionnaire to help answer these questions.
• DSM-5. Your mental health professional may use the criteria for depression listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), published by the American Psychiatric Association.
 TYPES OF DEPRESSION

• Anxious distress — depression with unusual restlessness or worry about possible events or loss of control
• Mixed features — simultaneous depression and mania, which includes elevated self-esteem, talking too much and increased energy
• Melancholic features — severe depression with lack of response to something that used to bring pleasure and associated with early morning
awakening, worsened mood in the morning, major changes in appetite, and feelings of guilt, agitation or sluggishness
• Atypical features — depression that includes the ability to temporarily be cheered by happy events, increased appetite, excessive need for
sleep, sensitivity to rejection, and a heavy feeling in the arms or legs
• Psychotic features — depression accompanied by delusions or hallucinations, which may involve personal inadequacy or other negative
themes
• Catatonia — depression that includes motor activity that involves either uncontrollable and purposeless movement or fixed and inflexible
posture
• Peripartum onset — depression that occurs during pregnancy or in the weeks or months after delivery (postpartum)
• Seasonal pattern — depression related to changes in seasons and reduced exposure to sunlight
 TREATMENT

• Medications and psychotherapy are effective for most people with depression. Your
primary care doctor or psychiatrist can prescribe medications to relieve symptoms.
However, many people with depression also benefit from seeing a psychiatrist,
psychologist or other mental health professional.

• If you have severe depression, you may need a hospital stay, or you may need to
participate in an outpatient treatment program until your symptoms improve.
 PSYCHOTHERAPY

• Adjust to a crisis or other current difficulty

• Identify negative beliefs and behaviors and replace them with healthy, positive ones
• Explore relationships and experiences, and develop positive interactions with others
• Find better ways to cope and solve problems
• Identify issues that contribute to your depression and change behaviors that make it worse
• Regain a sense of satisfaction and control in your life and help ease depression symptoms, such as hopelessness
and anger
• Learn to set realistic goals for your life
• Develop the ability to tolerate and accept distress using healthier behaviors
 HOMEOPATHIC TREATMENT

• 1. Ignatia – For Acute Cases

Ignatia Amara is a leading medicine to treat cases of depression. It works wonders in case of acute depression that has just taken off.
Those who need it remain sad all the time. With this, they have weeping spells. They also isolate themselves and avoid social engagements.
They brood all the time ie; lost in deep thought which makes them sad and worried. Along with the above-mentioned symptoms, they may be
very irritable. Their mind gets dull with weak memory. Excessive weakness also appears among them. Depression that gets triggered by acute
grief like the death of a loved one, broken relationships and disappointments in life can be treated wonderfully with it. It is also an excellent
medicine to treat bipolar disorder.

• 2. Natrum Mur – For Chronic Cases

Natrum Mur is preferred to treat cases of chronic depression. It is suited to those who are very sensitive, sadly accompanied by
sporadic episodes of weeping. They remain absorbed in grief all the time and dwell on the unpleasant memories of the past. They don’t like
consolation, and it worsens the complaints. They have a tendency to get offended easily. Along with it, they don’t have an interest in doing
any sort of work. It is also beneficial to manage depression in women before their periods.
• 3. Aurum Met – For Hopelessness, Worthlessness & Suicidal Thoughts
Aurum Met is useful to those who experience extreme sadness accompanied by hopelessness. Along with this, they feel
that they are worthless and of no value. They assume negative thoughts and the future seems dark to them. They feel that life is a
burden, it’s useless to live, and they long for death with constant suicidal thoughts.

• 4. Kali Phos – Another Leading Medicine for Depression

Kali Phos is the next top-listed medicine for depression. It mostly helps people who are over-stressed and have much to
worry about. They remain constantly sad, and gloomy. With this, they have negative thoughts in their minds. Those who need it
feel mentally and physically exhausted. Other symptoms that they may present include anxiety attacks, and spells of weeping.
Apart from the above-mentioned symptoms, complaint of sleeplessness is another major concern among them.

• 5. Natrum Sulph – When Suicidal Thoughts Are Present

Natrum Sulph offers help when suicidal thoughts are overwhelmingly present. Sadness, weeping, and excessive
irritability are also present. Bouts of sadness are worst in the morning hours. There is also an aversion to talking, indifference
towards one’s own family, the meaninglessness of life, and frequent thoughts to end up life. Sometimes one undergoes a confused
state of mind and has difficulty in thinking.