The purpose of this study was to assess medical residents’ knowledge of symptom criteria and subtypes of major depressive episode and their accuracy in diagnosing major depressive disorders and classifying episode severity and subtype according to criteria of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Thirty-five third-year internal medicine residents completed a [...]

Continue reading " Internal Medical Residents’ Ability to Diagnose and Characterize Major Depression "

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. is declaring a public health emergency to deal with the emerging new swine flu.
The precautionary step doesn’t signal a greater threat to Americans. But it allows the federal and state governments easier access to flu tests and medications.
Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napilotano says roughly 12 million doses of the drug [...]

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What does it mean to be vulnerable to a mental disorder such as major depression? While 20% of women and 12% of men can provide first-hand knowledge about this ubiquitous disorder, it may be assumed that even more people are vulnerable to depression. Treatments, whether psychopharmacological or psychotherapeutic, may be effective; however, the challenge to [...]

Continue reading " Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression "

What does it mean to be vulnerable to a mental disorder such as major depression? While 20% of women and 12% of men1 can provide first-hand knowledge about this ubiquitous disorder, it may be assumed that even more people are vulnerable to depression. Treatments, whether psychopharmacological or psychotherapeutic, may be effective; however, the challenge to [...]

Continue reading " Cognitive Vulnerability to Depression "

Medications to relieve symptoms of depression are called antidepressants. They work by altering levels of certain neurotransmitters such as serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine in the brain. A neurotransmitter is a brain chemical that enables messages to pass from nerve cell to nerve cell in the central nervous system. Many people with depression have low levels [...]

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Evidence indicates that all of the available antidepressants on the market have a high efficacy rate. The only area where the drugs do differ, is in the side effects they create. Side effects have become a central consideration in the new approach to depression treatment.
Years ago, Prozac launched a revolution. It rendered depression a disorder [...]

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The major classes of antidepressant medication are the selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRIs), the tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs), the monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), and the atypical antidepressants.
SSRI medications affect levels of serotonin in the brain. For many people, these medications are the first choice. Examples of these medications are listed here. The generic name is first, [...]

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Therapy frequently includes antidepressant medication and supportive care such as psychotherapy. Other less widely used therapies, such as electroconvulsive therapy, are used in severe cases.
Therapy may be provided by your health-care provider or by a specially trained mental-health professional.

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Once you are being treated for depression, you can make lifestyle changes and choices that will help you through the rough times and may prevent depression from returning:

Try to identify and focus on activities that make you feel better. It is important to do things for yourself. Don’t isolate yourself. Take part in activities even [...]

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If your symptoms indicate that you have clinical depression, your health-care provider will strongly recommend treatment. Treatment may include supportive therapy, such as changes in lifestyle and behavior, psychotherapy, complementary therapies, and may often include medication. Without treatment, your symptoms will last much longer and may never get better. In fact, they may get worse. [...]

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