Depression education about

Drug treatment is a vital part of the management of bipolar disorder, both during episodes of depression or mania and as prophylaxis thereafter. Patients require explanation and education about the illness and about the treatments available, in order to be able to make informed choices and to avail themselves of the appropriate options fot treatment. 

In 1997, a large epidemiological study found that 11.3% of individuals with lifetime major depression had only episodes meeting atypical criteria ( 11). These patients (especially male patients) may also be at greater risk for sedative-hypnotic abuse. If the clinician is cognizant of these probabilities, preventive steps can be taken (e g., education about sedative-hypnotics). The identification of the nonclassic forms, as well as their differences in clinical presentation, has substantial implications for their differential treatment (see Chapter 7). 

Education of patients about antidepressants has several facets. First, education about the biological aspects of depression is helpful, especially so that they do not view taking medication as a sign of moral weakness. Next, it is important to describe what to expect from the antidepressants what typical side effects are, that the medication is not habit forming, that a clinical response typically takes two to three weeks to be achieved, that side effects diminish over time, and that other medications can be tried if the first one does not work. For people taking MAOls, education about foods and medications to avoid is crucial. 

Education does not stop at this point, but is an ongoing process throughout treatment. Because major depressive disorder impairs concentration and attention, it is useful to repeat this information several times during the initial and follow-up visits. It is often helpful to query the patient about what has been explained and then clarify or expound on issues as indicated. It is critically important to avoid patient discouragement by balancing optimism with the acknowledgment that antidepressants generally have a delayed onset of action. 

The patient should be told of the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options, including costs, duration, and potential side effects. In educating patient and family about the clinical management of depression, it is useful to emphasize the following information ... 

The editorial in the American Journal of Psychiatry is miffed that the FDA warned about antidepressant-induced suicidality without providing another alternative. But the so-called alternatives for treating depression in children—psychosocial and educational interventions—should have already become the only treatments for childhood depression. 

Figure 5.3 The National Mental Health Association helps to education people about the signs and symptoms of bipolar depression. A poster from one of its advertising campaigns is shown here. The goal is to address misdiagnosis and underdiagnosis of bipolar depression.

Certain t) es of foods can adversely effect the dmg s therapeutic effect by increasing absorption, delaying absorption, and even preventing absorption of the medication. Furthermore, food may cause the patient to experience an adverse reaction as in the case with phenelzine sulfate (Nardil), which is an MAO monoamineoxidase inhibitor anti-depressant. Nardil caimot be given with foods that use bacteria or molds in their preparation or for preservation of those that contain tyramine, such as cheese, sour cream, beer, wine, figs, raisins, bananas, avocados, etc. The nurse must assess if the dmg has a contraindication with food and educate the patient about this food-dmg interaction. 

One of the meiin issues in applying health is getting the people to care about themselves, it seems as though there may be a lot of depression in lower income families and to get them to understand the quality of life would be a major step. The main issue that would arise in Sun Valley for education would be getting quality teachers who are able to motivate the children to learn and create a better life for themselves. 

---