Archives for July 2007

                                      Major Depressive Disorder:
Presence of a single major depressive disorder episode the major depressive episode is not better accounted for by schizoaffective disorder and is not superimposed on schizophrenia disorder, delusional disorder or psychotic disorder. Note: otherwise specified there has never been a manic episode, a mixed episode, or a hypo manic episode are substance or treatment induced or are due to the direct physiological effects of a general medical conditions. Presence of a 2 or more major depressive episodes: Note: to be considered separate episodes, there must be an interval of at least 2 consecutive months in which criteria are not met for a major depressive episode. The major depressive episodes are not better accounted for by schizoaffective disorder, and are not superimposed on schizophrenia, schizophrenic form disorder, delusional disorder, or psychotic disorder otherwise specified. Note: This exclusion does not apply if all the manic-like, mixed-like or hypo-manic like episodes are substance or treatment induced or are due to the direct physiological effects or a general medical condition.

    * Being moody and irritable - easily upset, `ratty' or tearful
    * Becoming withdrawn - avoiding friends, family and regular activities
    * Feeling guilty or bad, being self-critical and self-blaming - hating yourself
    * Feeling unhappy, miserable and lonely a lot of the time
    * Feeling hopeless and wanting to die
    * Finding it difficult to concentrate
    * Not looking after your personal appearance
    * Changes in sleep pattern: sleeping too little or too much
    * Tiredness and lack of energy
    * Changes in appetite
    * Frequent minor health problems, such as headaches or stomach-aches
    * Some people believe they are ugly, guilty and have done terrible things.

 
If you have all or most of these signs and have had them over a long period of time, it may mean
that you are depressed. You may find it very difficult to talk about how you are feeling

Many of the self-help exercises on this site are based on a technique called cognitive therapy. However, some people need to see a professional for cognitive therapy to work for them. They may also need another form of therapy.The first person to talk to about this is your GP, who may have a practice counsellor who you could talk to. Alternatively, you may be referred to the local community mental health team to see a community psychiatric nurse (CPN) or a clinical psychologist.For some people, therapy alone isn't enough. There are a number of antidepressants available for doctors to prescribe, which can be used alongside cognitive therapy.Working with your mental health team, it's possible to draw up a crisis card - an agreed plan detailing the type of care you want (or don't want) in the event of a crisis. The Institute of Psychiatry at King's College London has more information on how to develop joint crisis plans.

                           DSM IV Major Depressive Episode:
5 or more of the following symptoms have been present during the same 2 week period and represent a change from previous functioning; at least one of the moods is either depressed mood or loss of interest or pleasure.
(1) Depressed mood most of the day nearly everyday as indicated by either subjective report (e.g. feels sad or empty) or observation made by others (appears tearful) note: in children can be irritable mood.
(2) Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all or almost all activities most of the day nearly everyday (as indicated by either subjective account or observation made by others)
(3) Significant weight loss when not dieting or weight gains (a change of more then 5% of body weight in a month) or decrease or increase in appetite nearly everyday, note: in children consider failure to make expected weight gain.
(4) Insomnia or hyper somnia nearly everyday.
(5) Psychomotor agitation or retardation nearly everyday (observable by others not merely subjective feelings of restlessness or being slowed down).
(6) Fatigue or loss of energy nearly everyday.
(7) Feelings of worthlessness /excessive or in appropriate guilt (which maybe delusional) nearly everyday (not merely self reproach or guilt about being sick).
(8) Diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness nearly everyday (either by subjective account or as observed by others).
(9) Recurrent thoughts of death (not just fear of dieing) recurrent suicidal, death in which a specific plan or a suicidal attempt or a specific plan for committing suicide.
(b) The symptoms do not meet criteria for a mixed Episode.
(c) The symptoms cause clinically signified distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
(d) The symptoms are not due to the direct physiological effects of a substance (abuse of drug or medication) or a general medical condition (hyperthyroidism).
(e)  The symptoms are not better by bereavement the symptoms persists for longer then 2 months or are characterized by marked functional impairment, morbid preoccupation with worthlessness, suicidal ideation, psychological symptoms or psychomotor retardation.

Sleep problems are common for people with depression. Some mental health experts believe that many depressive symptoms are a result of sleep disturbances. Lack of sleep or too much sleep can make depression worse.If you are having sleep problems, you are not alone. Sleep experts say many of us aren't getting enough sleep.

                                  Paranoid Schizophrenia:
In this mental disorder paranoid thinking and behavior are hallmarks of the form of schizophrenia called “Paranoid Schizophrenia” in this disease the individual commonly has extremely bizarre delusions or hallucinations almost always on a specific theme. Sometimes they hear voices that others cannot hear or believe that their thoughts are being controlled or broadcasted aloud. Also their performance at home and on the job deteriorates often with a much diminished degree of emotional expressiveness.

Only in the past two decades has depression in children been taken very seriously. The depressed child may pretend to be sick, refuse to go to school, cling to a parent, or worry that the parent may die. Older children may sulk, get into trouble at school, be negative, grouchy, and feel misunderstood.Because normal behaviors vary from one childhood stage to another, it can be difficult to tell whether a child is just going through a temporary "phase" or is suffering from depression. Sometimes the parents become worried about how the child's behavior has changed, or a teacher mentions that "your child doesn't seem to be himself." In such a case, if a visit to the child's pediatrician rules out physical symptoms, the doctor will probably suggest that the child be evaluated, preferably by a psychiatrist who specializes in the treatment of children.

A sense of humor is learned, not inherited and you can sharpen your wits if you really want to, no matter what your age, sex or circumstance in life, is. Here are some of his tips for lightening up.
Be a good listener: most people are so self-absorbed they don’t pay full attention to what’s happening around them or even what’s being said for them. That’s half the trouble. Because humor is about life’s subtleties. A keen listener keeps his ear to the ground, is alert to nuances, changes in tone and actually hears what is being said.
Result: the more you hear, the wider your horizons will be and the bigger your stock of anecdotes.
Cultivate an atmosphere of humor and laughter at home
Make it a habit to daily regale your family with some thing funny that happened in the office, on your way home, or just recall something good from the past. This in turn forces you to start noticing the unusual things in a day.
Seek the right company if you don’t laugh as much as you used to and want to correct the situation, try to associate with humorous, fun loving people and avoid the downers. If you are a loner, turn to books on satire or watch comedy serials or movies, to keep your humour muscles vigorous. It’s okay even if they’re the slapstick kind.
Learn to laugh at yourself or you’ll end up handing over the job to others. Most people are unable to laugh at themselves because of their own insecurities and fears, we are afraid of looking foolish or incompetent in the eyes of others. It is important to realize that we all make mistakes and when we do, a good laugh makes the mistake seem trivial and more human.
Go back to lighthearted childhood favorites.
Watch the cartoon network once in while or just make a collage of the funniest jokes or snippets you came across, and put them up on display on the fridge or the bulletin board.
These can serve as daily reminders to laugh.
Use humor to neutralize conflicts sometimes self deprecatory humor can help lighten things up instantly.