Psychology Article
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THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS WERE ANSWERED BY DR. ARNOLD LIEBER.
Major depression is a common malady. Twenty percent or more of the population can expect to have at least one bout of depression in their lifetime. It is a disorder that is widely unrecognized, undiagnosed, untreated, and stigmatized. Depression is often trivialized, seen as a sign of "weakness"...
How long a person takes antidepressants or lithium depends on the nature of that individual's illness.
In general, people with severe, frequent, or prolonged bouts of depression (in the form of major depression or the depressed side of bipolar disorder) will require prolonged maintenance medication...
Genetic factors play an important role in major depression and bipolar disorder. These are illnesses in which familial patterns are often apparent, particularly in bipolar disorder, where a first-degree relative (a child) has an approximately 25 percent chance of having the disorder if one parent...
People who are depressed generally know that something is wrong, even frighteningly wrong. But sometimes they and those around them do not identify their problem as depression. Out of lack of awareness of what depression consists of or an aversion to admitting a mental or emotional illness, they...
In bipolar disorder (or manic depressive disorder), as in major depressive disorder, there is a basic disturbance in the background emotional tone we call mood. Unlike people with major depression (or unipolar disorder), bipolar patients have a variable pattern of depressed and manic episodes....
Depressed people often have suicidal thoughts. They see no end to their anguish; they can't believe in a happy outcome; and they sometimes think they don't deserve to live or their families would be better off without them. As many as 10 to 15 percent of depressed patients commit suicide. Some 50...
t would be nice to report that self-help works! Unfortunately, serious depression is a very disillusioning affair. The most intelligent, educated, cultivated people are equally laid low. They include those with the best plans for better living; the most prudent and health-conscious; college...
Antidepressant drugs and lithium are not habit-forming or addicting. Craving does not develop, nor does tolerance (requiring higher and higher doses for the same effect).
Abrupt cessation (or even skipping doses of some drugs) can cause withdrawal symptoms such as jitteriness and insomnia, but this...
You might ask your primary physician for a referral. Then there's a word-of-mouth referral from a friend or relative. The local medical society or psychiatric society (a local branch of the American Psychiatric Association, for example) can help. If there's a medical school or big hospital in town...
Depression occurs in children and adolescents often, but not exclusively, in contexts of strong stresses such as family discord, abuse, or failure at school. Nationally, about 5 percent of adolescents have major depression. Common symptoms include physical complaints, sad appearance, poor self-...
Possible Problems:
Possible Problems:
What To Do:
Depression.
Any illness, severe or mild,
Consult doctor.
Chronic illness, especially
can cause significant
See Depression.
rheumatoid arthritis, multiple
depression.
See chart in Illness
sclerosis and chronic heart
section for the...
Symptoms:
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What To Do:
Confusion.
Adverse reaction or side
Consult doctor.
Use of drugs, including:
effect of drug.
antihistamines; appetite
Drug interaction.
suppressants; muscle relaxants;
pain killers; sedatives;
tranquilizers; or mind-...
Symptoms:
Possible Problems:
What To Do:
Dizziness.
Adverse reaction or side
Consult doctor about
Use of prescription or non-
effect of drug.
prescription drug.
prescription drug.
Discontinue use of non-
prescription drug.
Symptoms:
Possible Problems:
What To Do...
While anyone can become depressed, some people are at greater risk. Women are twice as likely to become depressed as men, though they are only slightly more likely to develop bipolar disorder, once known as manic depression. (Before puberty, boys and girls have about equal likelihood of developing...