Clinical Depression --various types ?
Q.Detection and Diagnosis systematically reviews the diagnosis of depressive and other mood disorders, according to the current U.S. standard system in Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Third Edition, Revised (DSM-III-R) (American Psychiatric Association, 1987). The disorders reviewed include both unipolar forms of primary mood disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, dysthymic disorder), depression not otherwise specified (DNOS), and bipolar forms of primary mood disorders (e.g., bipolar I disorder, bipolar disorder not otherwise specified, cyclothymic disorder). The co-occurrence of depression with other nonmood psychiatric disorders and with other nonpsychiatric medical conditions is also considered, as is depression caused by medications. Finally, the guidelines offer a strategy for making a differential diagnosis of depression, including risk factors and clinical clues, use of laboratory and psychological tests, and ongoing clinical reassessment.
A.A clinical depression or a mood disorder is a syndrome (a constellation of signs and symptoms) that is not a normal reaction to life's difficulties. Mood disorders involve disturbances in emotional, cognitive, behavioral, and somatic regulation. A sad or depressed mood is only one of many signs and symptoms of clinical depression. In fact, the mood disturbance may include apathy, anxiety, or irritability in addition to or instead of sadness; also, the patient's interest or capacity for pleasure or enjoyment may be markedly reduced. Up to one in eight individuals may require treatment for depression during their lifetimes; up to 70 percent of psychiatric hospitalizations are associated with mood disorders. According to data based on a 1980 population base, the total number of cases of major depressive disorder among those 18 or older in a 6-month period is 4.8 million; in addition, over 60 percent of suicides can be attributed to major depressive disorder. Based on 1980 data, mood disorders account for more than 565,000 hospital admissions, 7.4 million hospital days, and 13 million physicians' visits annually. The total cost of mood disorders to society, including indirect costs that result from lost productivity, is estimated to be $16 billion annually. In addition to economic costs, depression can carry great personal costs because of the social stigma associated with diagnosis and treatment of a mental illness. This stigma likely plays a large role in patients' reluctance to seek, accept, and adhere to treatment. Yet, when identified, depression can almost always be treated successfully, either with medication, psychotherapy, or a combination of the two. The potential savings to be derived from the appropriate treatment of persons suffering from depression are socially and economically significant. The high prevalence of depression and the success of available treatments prompted the need to develop a guideline to assist primary care providers (general practitioners, family practitioners, internists, nurse practitioners, registered nurses, mental health nurse specialists, physician assistants, and others) in the diagnosis of depression. The Depression Guideline Panel that prepared these guidelines is composed of experts from various mental health and primary care disciplines and a consumer representative, selected for their range and diversity of expertise. The guidelines are based on systematic literature reviews commissioned by the panel and conducted by experts in numerous areas relevant to depression, with special attention to clinical issues most pertinent to diagnosis and treatment of depression in primary care. Guideline development also included input from a broad range of professional and consumer organizations and individuals. The guidelines have undergone peer review and field review with intended users in clinical sites to evaluate the document both conceptually and operationally.
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