Emotion Depressivity

Comment Depression in this context does not mean emotional depression as understood in the West. Here it is used as a technical term within TCM. 

Jean Ann Tonich, a 46-year-old commercial artist, recently lost her job because of absenteeism. Her husband of 24 years had left her 10 months earlier. She complains of loss of appetite, fatigue, muscle weakness, and emotional depression. She has had occasional pain in the area of her liver, at times accompanied by nausea and vomiting. 

Acute benzene poisoning results in CNS depression and is characterized by an initial euphoria followed by staggered gait, stupor, coma, and convulsions. Exposure to approximately 4000 ppm benzene results in complete loss of consciousness. Insomnia, agitation, headache, nausea, and drowsiness may persist for weeks after exposure (126). Continued inhalation of benzene to the point of euphoria has caused irreversible encephalopathy with tremulousness, emotional lability, and diffuse cerebral atrophy (125). In deaths arising from acute exposure, respiratory tract infection, hypo- and hyperplasia of sternal bone marrow, congested kidneys, and cerebral edema have been found at autopsy. 

Air-poUutant effects on neural and sensory functions in humans vary widely. Odorous pollutants cause only minor annoyance yet, if persistent, they can lead to irritation, emotional upset, anorexia, and mental depression. Carbon monoxide can cause death secondary to the depression of the respiratory centers of the central nervous system. Short of death, repeated and prolonged exposure to carbon monoxide can alter sensory protection, temporal perception, and higher mental functions. Lipid-soluble aerosols can enter the body and be absorbed in the lipids of the central nervous system. Once there, their effects may persist long after the initial contact has been removed. Examples of agents of long-term chronic effects are organic phosphate pesticides and aerosols carrying the metals lead, mercury, and cadmium. 

Lethargy, dizziness, insomnia, anorexia, nausea, sexual dysfunction, headache, emotional lability, depression, sweating, acne, breast atrophy, peripheral edema, lower urinary trad symptoms, hot flashes, pain, edema, upper respiratory tract infedion, rash... 

Emotional instability - displaying depressive, aggressive or simply moody behaviour is a taboo for mentors. They must learn how to manage their emotions so as to be capable of providing mentees with the calmness, patience and reflectivity that is required of them. 

F43.2 Adjustment disorders. 20 Brief depressive reaction. 21 Prolonged depressive reaction. 22 Mixed anxiety and depressive reaction. 23 With predominant disturbance of other emotions. 24 With predominant disturbance of conduct. 25 With mixed disturbance of emotions and conduct. 28 With other specified predominant symptoms... 

This behavioural syndrome, rather emotively called learned helplessness", is widely believed to share many features of depression, not least because both culminate in psychomotor retardation and both are linked with experience of uncontrollable, unpredictable stress. Whether or not learned helplessness really is an analogue of depression remains controversial (Maier 1993). Nevertheless, escape deficits in rats are prevented by pretreatment with antidepressants from different generic groups. Other psychotropic agents, such as CNS stimulants and neuroleptics, are generally ineffective. 

Lorazepam (Ativan) 0.5-2 mg prior to chemotherapy Most common Sedation, amnesia Rare Respiratory depression, ataxia, blurred vision, hallucinations, paradoxical reactions (weeping, emotional reactions)... 

It is widely accepted that it takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks of treatment before improvement is seen in emotional symptoms of depression, such as sadness and anhedonia. Furthermore, it may take as long as 6 to 8 weeks of treatment to see the full effects of antidepressant therapy. 

Unfortunately, antidepressants do not produce a clinical response immediately. Improvement in physical symptoms, such as sleep, appetite, and energy, can occur within the first week or so of treatment. Although a recent meta-analysis suggests earlier effects of antidepressant treatment,36 it is widely accepted that it takes approximately 2 to 4 weeks of treatment before improvement is seen in emotional symptoms of depression, such as sadness and anhedonia. Furthermore, it may take as long as 6 to 8 weeks of treatment to see the full effects of antidepressant therapy.7 22 23... 

Psychiatric changes such as depression, emotional lability, psychosis, euphoria, anxiety, and decreased cognition (85%)... 

Reduced lean body mass Reduced muscle strength Reduced exercise performance Thin, dry skin cool peripheries poor venous access Depressed affect, labile emotions Impaired cardiac function... 

In 1976, Aaron Beck, a psychiatrist at the University of Pennsylvania, proposed a cognitive theory of emotions and emotional disorders - a theory that was to become the foundation for cognitive behavioural therapy for depression. According to Beck, fear is produced by the anticipation of harm, joy by the expectancy of positive events, and sadness by the sense that something important has for ever been lost. As a consequence, overcoming fear and depression requires changing the beliefs that have produced them. 

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