Jennifer Berumen

Professor Nathan Cole

IEP Final Draft
5th, May 2016

Depression Disorder
Depression is a common genetic disease such as cancer, diabetes,
heart disease, alcoholism etc. that can make you more susceptible to it if it
runs in your family. Ive done my family history research and come to find
that a lot of my family suffers from it and some have seek help and but
others are on the controversial side of it; looking at it as a natural thing that
happens to everyone. I was interested in the scientific aspect of this disease
and why it happens and what I came to find surprised me. There is a lot more
to depression than I had imagined.
When is feeling too sad, being dissatisfied, feeling hopeless considered
an illness and not something that can be self-handled. Some people believe
not being able to pull yourself together is a sign of weakness. Many have
said that Americans have a drug for any symptom outside of the ordinary
and this is just another way to treat something can be treated on its own.
When you stop to feel like yourself and have a loss of interest in activities
that were once enjoyable, you feel sad and you feel hopeless for extended

periods of time, your body, mood, thoughts, and behavior are affected, you
change your eating habits, the way you feel and think, the ability to do work
and study, and how you interact with people is greatly affected; its time not
the same as feeling sad or depressed for a few days and then feeling better.
This is something a lot bigger than that, its a serious negatively medical
illness that requires attention.
Over the years studies have been done and theyve come up with the
term Clinical Depression. Clinical depression can last weeks, months and
sometimes even years. There are different types and levels of clinical
depression. Symptoms that can help you determine if you have clinical
depression vary depending on the type but the physical symptoms can be
things like; sleep disturbances-insomnia, oversleeping, waking much earlier
than usual. Changes in appetite or eating too much more or much less,
decreased energy, fatigue; Headaches, stomachaches, digestive problems or
other physical symptoms that are not explained by other physical conditions
or do not respond to treatment. The behavioral or attitude part that can be
affected is loss of interest or pleasure in activities that were once enjoyed,
such as going out with friends, hobbies, sports, sex, etc., having difficulty
concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. Neglecting responsibilities
or lacking of personal appearance. The Emotional aspect thats effected is
persistent sadness or feeling "empty", lasting two or more weeks, crying "for
no reason", feeling hopeless, helpless, guilty or worthless, feeling irritable,
agitated or anxious, having thoughts of death or suicide (UC Berkeley).

If you have any of the symptoms mentioned, you could be suffering

from one type of depression. One of the most common type is known as
Major Depressive Disorder. The exact cause of MDD isnt known. However,
there are several factors that can increase the risk of developing the
condition. A combination of genes and stress can affect brain chemistry and
reduce the ability to maintain mood stability and also the changes in the
balance of hormones can have a big effect to this disease. Major depressive
disorder can be cured with medication and psychotherapy. One of the more
frequently used antidepressants is the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor
(SSRI). This type of medication helps inhibit the breakdown of serotonin in
the brain, resulting in higher amounts of this neurotransmitter in the brain,
which helps stabilize mood (Michael Kerr). Psychotherapy involves meeting
with a therapist on a regular basis to talk about your condition and related
issues. Psychotherapy can help you adjust to a crisis or other stressful event,
replace negative beliefs and behaviors with positive healthy ones, improve
your communication skills, find better ways to cope with challenges and
solve problems, increase your self-esteem and regain a sense of satisfaction
and control in your life (Michael Kerr).
The next known form of depression is Catatonic Depression, the
inability to move normally. This may include things like staying still, a lack of
speech, fast movements, abnormal movements and many of the symptoms
mentioned about clinical depression. Researchers believe depression is partly
caused by an irregular production of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters

are chemicals in the brain that allow cells to communicate with each other.
The neurotransmitters most often associated with depression are serotonin
and norepinephrine. Treatment for catatonic depression differs from patients
but the names of medications are Benzodiazepines, Electroconvulsive
Therapy, N-Methyl-D-Aspartat, and Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic
Stimulation (rTMS). (Michael Kerr). The next time of depression is known as
Seasonal Affective Disorder, this is more likely to happen to someone who
lives in parts of the world like Canada and Alaska where there are longer
winter nights and less sunlight. There are two types of SAD, wintertime and
summertime. People with wintertime depression might suffer from daytime
fatigue, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness, increased
irritability; someone with summertime depression might experience
symptoms such as agitation, difficulty sleeping, increased restlessness, and
lack of appetite. Treatment for this disease include different types of
counseling and therapy (Michael Kerr).
Next major depression disorder is Dysthymia. Dysthymia is a Greek
word that means ill humor or bad state of mind. It is also described as
chronic depression. The American Psychiatric Association (APA) defines
dysthymia as having depressed mood most of the time for at least two
years. (Michael Kerr). Patients with Dysthymia dont know they suffer from it
because they start feeling better for a period of time. Typically, however,
these bursts of normalcy last no more than two months. The causes for this
form of depression is norepinephrine and serotonin that affect mood.

Symptoms relating to Dysthymia are poor appetite or overeating, insomnia

or hypersomnia, fatigue or low energy, poor concentration, indecisiveness,
low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness The most effective treatment
for dysthymia is selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitor (SSRI)-type
antidepressants, such as paroxetine (Paxil) and fluoxetine (Prozac) (Michael
Kerr). Also psychotherapy can be beneficial, including cognitive behavioral
therapy (Michael Kerr).
The next form of major depressive disorder is known as Atypical
Depression. They difference between Major Depressive Disorder and Atypical
is that mood can improve in response to positive circumstances and events.
Symptoms relating to Atypical depression disorder are persistent feelings of
sadness or hopelessness, anxiety or irritability, sleeping too much or too
little, loss of interest in activities that were once enjoyable, difficulty
concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things, low energy or
fatigue and often thoughts or talk of suicide. Common risks include traumatic
experiences, such as physical abuse, death of a loved one, or divorce, a
history of abusing alcohol and drugs, and being diagnosed with a major
illness. Determining if you have this disease includes symptoms, personal
life, past experiences, current medications, personal or family history.
Treatment for this disease includes mental therapy for expressing your
feeling and unhealthy thoughts, and also antidepressants, such as
monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) or selective serotonin reuptake
inhibitors (SSRIs) (Michael Kerr). Home remedies than can be helpful are

avoiding recreational drugs and alcohol, exercising at least three times per
week, getting plenty of sleep, implementing relaxation techniques, such as
deep breathing and meditation, and also taking certain supplements, such as
fish oil (Michael Kerr). The last major type of depression is characterized as
an extreme and persistent and intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness.
The disorder can affect many areas of life, including work, school, and
relationships. It may also impact mood and behavior as well as various
physical functions, such as appetite and sleep. People with MDD often lose
interest in activities they once enjoyed and have trouble getting through the
day (Michael Kerr). It is known as Melancholic Depression. Determining if a
person has Melancholic can be done by a doctor asking questions like, do
you have difficulty getting out of bed and getting started in the morning? Are
your symptoms generally worse in the morning or in the evening? How do
you sleep? Has there been a change in your sleep patterns? What does a
typical day look like for you? Treatments for Melancholic include types of
psychological therapy including talking to a therapist, electroconvulsive
therapy and group therapy. Your doctor may also prescribe you
antidepressants, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).
These include well-known medications, such as fluoxetine (Prozac),
citalopram (Celexa), or paroxetine (Paxil) (Michael Kerr).
In conclusion to my studies, Ive determined that depression is more
than just a feeling of sadness or how a lot of people see it as a sign of
weakness, Its not something that will pass or you can overcome on your

own. Ive discovered it can be seeing as a disease like cancer, diabetes, or

heart disease; it needs alternative help such as medicine or psychoactive
therapy to improve. I think its important for the general public, especially
anyone having these symptoms to talk to a specialist and seek help. The
longer you go untreated the worse symptoms can become often leading to
one of the major causes of deaths in the US which is suicide. I believe
sadness is a natural emotion humans are supposed to have but when it
affects your happiness, train of thoughts and physical aspects of your life;
its important to seek help and find which type of treatment will best work for
you.

Works Cited

UC Berkeley "Clinical Depression." University Health Services. Ed. Web. 05

May 2016.
Michael Kerr. "Major Depressive Disorder (Clinical Depression)." Healthline.
21 Jan. 2015. Web. 06 May 2016.
Michael Kerr. "Catatonic Depression: Symptoms, Causes, and Treatments."
Healthline. Web. 06 May 2016.
Michael Kerr. "Dysthymia (Chronic Depression)." Healthline. Web. 06 May
2016.
Michael Kerr. "Atypical Depression." Healthline. Web. 06 May 2016.
Michael Kerr. "Melancholic Depression." Healthline. Web. 06 May 2016.