Question

The Disorder is: Depression Disorder

Describe the origins or history of the mental disorder.

Describe the psychological theory or theories that relate to the mental disorder especially in the areas of diagnosis and treatment.

Describe the difference if any in age of onset and diagnostic criteria based on gender.

Explain the potential impact of the mental disorder on the individual and his or her family.

Explain the social perceptions of the mental disorder from stigma to advocacy.

Answer 1

The origins of depression disorder (DD) go back to the time of Hippocrates around mind 15tg century where stated the personality type into different fluids. Imbalance in these fluids caused melancholia (old name for depression). Hippocrates describes it as a distinct disease with a particular mental and physical symptom where he characterised all the fears and despondencies if they last a long time being symptomatic of the ailment. Then over the time different researchers and scientists had different take on this. Later in the 17th century in one of his novels Richard Baker used a Latin word depremere which meant to press down something or to depress. This word then was wildly picked by economists psychologists and authors. Later in the 19th century Adolf Meyer put forward a mixed biological and social framework emphasising reactions in the context of an individuals life and argued that the term depression should be used instead of melancholia.

DIAGNOSIS

• Physical Examination: The concerned Authority gives you various questionnaires and also investigate verbally. In some cases, depression may be linked to an underlying physical health problem.

• Lab Tests : The Concerned Authority may do a blood test called a complete blood count or test your thyroid to make sure it's functioning properly.

• Psychological tests: The 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.

• DSM5 : The 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.

TREATMENT

Treatment pattern usually depends on the intensity of depression. However the combination of medications, therapies and medical procedures is one to the best way to treat depression. The length and dosage of the treatments is a matter of subjectivity .

AGE OF ONSET AND DIAGNOSTIC CRITERIA FOR MEN AND WOMEN

Male depression often goes unnoticed because of their coping mechanism unlike women. There is no stipulation to age of onset as such as it is a function of environmental trigger . Triggers are easy to react when depression is genetically passed on in the family. Diagnostic criteria for both men and women is more or less similar. It is as follows:

Feeling sad - hopeless - empty , feeling extremely tired , having difficulty to sleep or sleeping too much, not getting pleasure from activities that usually used to please , distorted appetite. Escapist behavior, such as spending a lot of time at work or on sports, Physical symptoms, such as headaches, digestive problems and pain, Problems with alcohol or drug use, Controlling, violent or abusive behavior, Irritability or inappropriate anger, Risky behavior, such as reckless driving.

The families of patients with depression also tend to pick up the disorder if it is chronic. In such situations family therapy is must for all the members. For the patient suffering it take time and pace of recovery is subjective.

Socially depressed individuals are looks upon as a subject of pity and this effects the behaviour of the person towards the patient. As the patient is extra sensitive this will push him more into social escapism and self isolation.