Major depression types

Depression is treated with the use of antidepressan t drugs. Psychotherapy is used in conjunction with the antidepressant drug s in treating major depressive episodes. The four types of antidepressants are ... 

Bipolar disorders have been categorized into bipolar I disorder, bipolar II disorder, and bipolar disorder, not otherwise specified (NOS). Bipolar I disorder is characterized by one or more manic or mixed mood episodes. Bipolar II disorder is characterized by one or more major depressive episodes and at least one hypomanic episode. Hypomania is an abnormally and persistently elevated, expansive, or irritable mood, but not of sufficient severity to cause significant impairment in social or occupational function and does not require hospitalization. Most epidemiologic studies have looked at bipolar disorder of all types (bipolar I and bipolar II), or the bipolar spectrum, which includes all clinical conditions thought to be closely related to bipolar disorder. The lifetime prevalence of bipolar I disorder is estimated to be between 0.3% and 2.4%. The lifetime prevalence of bipolar II disorder ranges from 0.2% to 5%. When including the bipolar spectrum, the lifetime prevalence is between 3% and 6.5%.1... 

Kleinman (1986) claimed that neurasthenia was a cultural form of chronic somatization that outlined several different types of psychopathological disorders, the major depressive disorder included in western classifications being the one that best accounted for this disorder. This would explain the lower rate of prevalence of the diagnosis of depressive disorder among the Chinese population. 

Virtually all types of drug that have been shown to be effective in major depression exert profound effects on the functioning of the serotoninergic or noradrenergic systems, or both. Although some treatments have been shown to decrease the sensitivity of certain postsynaptic 5-HT and NE receptors, it is generally believed that it is an enhancement of neurotransmission in these systems that is responsible for the improvement of the core symptoms of depression. For instance, long-term administration of tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) or monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) decreases the density of (3-adrenoceptors and cortical 5-HT2 receptors (Blier and Abbott 2003). 

Major depressive disorder, recurrent Bipolar disorder, type I ... 

MAPROTILINE HYDROCHLORIDE For the treatment of depressive illness in patients with depressive neurosis (dysthymic disorder) and manic-depressive illness, depressed type (major depressive disorder) also effective for the relief of anxiety associated with depression. 

Blood dyscrasias An irreversible type of marrow depression leading to aplastic anemia with a high rate of mortality is characterized by appearance of bone marrow aplasia or hypoplasia weeks or months after therapy. Peripherally, pancytopenia is most often observed, but only 1 or 2 of the 3 major cell types may be depressed. 

The analyses reviewed thus far are all observational studies using econometric procedures. In contrast, Kravitz et al. (2005) examined prescribing behavior of antidepressant drugs in a randomized controlled trial setting. Mostly professional actors, middle-aged, white, nonobese women, called standardized patients, were trained to depict to physicians two types of patients with differing severity of symptoms one with symptoms of major depression of moderate severity, and the other having an adjustment disorder with depressed mood. 

These two patient types were chosen to represent different levels of illness severity. Clinical treatment guidelines recommend quite clearly that the first type of patient presenting with moderate major depression symptoms receive treatment (psychotherapy, antidepressant drugs, or some combination), but for the second type of patient presenting with less severe symptoms the appropriate treatment is equivocal and ambiguous. ... 

Primary care physicians were recruited in four physician networks by mail with telephone follow-up, and were told only that the study would involve seeing two standardized patients several months apart, that each patient would present with a combination of common symptoms, and that the purpose of the study was to assess social influences on practice and the competing demands of primary care. The physician visits were surreptitiously audiotaped. Eighteen standardized patients completed a total of 149 encounters presenting with major depressive disorder, and another 149 with adjustment disorder, with each split approximately evenly among the three patient request types. 

Using a different set of statistical procedures, Kravitz et al. (2005) found that prescribing an antidepressant drug was 2.92 times more likely when a standardized patient presented with major depressive rather than adjustment disorder symptoms, and 8.50 and 10.3 times more likely when the patient made a brand-specihc or a general medication request, relative to no specific medication request, respectively. Physicians varied systematically in their propensity to prescribe an antidepressant, regardless of the type of patient presenting. But none of the standardized patients was systematically more or less likely than other patients to receive an antidepressant drug prescription. 

Substantial evidence supports the theory that psychotic depression represents a distinct type of major depression (Schatzberg and Rothschild 1992). Statistically significant differences between psychotic and nonpsychotic major depression have been noted along many axes, including presenting features (Coryell et al. 1984 Frances et al. 1981 Classman and Roose 1981 Lykouras et al. 1986 J. C. Nelson and Bowers 1978), biology (Carroll et al. 1976a Coryell et al. 1982 Rihmer et al. 1984 Rudorfer et al. 1982), familial transmission (Leckman et al. 1984 W. H. Nelson et al. 1984), course of illness (D. G. Robinson and Spiker 1985), and response to treatment (Chan et al. 1987 Classman and Roose 1981 Kantor and Classman 1977 J. C. Nelson and Bowers 1978 Rothschild 1985). 

Nemeroff CB, Krishnan KRR, Reed D, et al Adrenal gland enlargement in major depression a computed tomographic study. Arch Gen Psychiatry 49 384-387, 1992 Nestler EJ, Terwilliger RZ, Duman RS Chronic antidepressant administration alters the subcellular distribution of cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase in rat frontal cortex. J Neurochem 53 1644-1647, 1989 Nestor PC, Parasuraman R, Haxby JV, et al Divided attention and metabolic brain dysfunction in mild dementia of the Alzheimer s type. Neuropsychologia 29(5) 379-387, 1991... 

Chapter /, Modem Psychopharmaceuticals, written by Dr Hossein Fatemi, and Chapter 5, Psychopharmaceuticals and the Treatment of Mental Disorders, provide succinct, up to date, and well-referenced information on how to use the major classes of psychotropic drugs. The latter chapter discusses in a frank and balanced manner the ambivalence towards the use of pharmacologic agents in mental disorders felt by some, and the limitations on the achievements of current drugs as ideal therapies for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depression in particular. Clearly, much has been accomplished, but many needs, especially for prevention of relapse, removal of specific types of symptoms, and restoraton of work and social function, remain to be accomplished by drug and psychosocial therapies. 

Primary Type Major Depressive Disorder Bipolar Versus Unipolar... 

Most patients with medical disorders who commit suicide, even those with terminal disorders, have concurrent treatable major depression. In addition, the type of medical condition may increase risk. Thus, patients with respiratory diseases are three times more likely to commit suicide than patients with other medical conditions. Those on hemodialysis or who suffer from cancer also constitute high-risk groups, in comparison with the general population. 

There are two major types of depression major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar or manic-depressive illness. Both disorders are characterized by changes in mood as the primary clinical manifestation. Major depression is characterized by feelings of intense sadness and despair with little drive for socialization or communication. Physical changes such as insomnia, anorexia and sexual dysfunction can also occur. Mania is characterized by excessive elation, irritability, insomnia, hyperactivity and impaired judgment. It may effect as much as 1% of the U.S. population."... 

Treatment of depression is essential in minimizing the disruptive influence that this disease has on the patient s quality of life, and on his or her relationship with their family and job. Procedures ranging from psychotherapy to electroconvulsive treatment can be prescribed, depending on the severity and type. Drug treatment plays a major role in alleviating and preventing the occurrence of major depression, and this form of therapy is presented here. 

The three most common types of depression are major depression, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder. Major depression, which may occur once but usually occurs several times in a person s life, will interfere with the ability to work, eat, sleep, study, and take pleasure in formerly enjoyed activities. Dysthymia is less severe than major depression but will interfere with feeling good and functioning well. Bipolar disorder (formerly called manic-depression) can be more serious than the other forms of depression. In this illness the person s mood swings from symptoms of depression to extreme excitement with over-activity and feelings of elation. This type of depression can progress to serious mental illness if not treated. 

Some researchers believe the mood-elevating properties of oxycodone make it a reasonable treatment for depression in certain individuals, although that use of the drug is not yet common. The most likely to benefit from this type of therapy are people with major depression whose illness has not been successfully controlled with standard antidepressant medications. Careful, close monitoring is essential since, unlike antidepressant drugs, oxycodone does cause side effects and poses a risk of addiction. 

The critical pathology of mental disorders concerns the emotional state of the person. The most frequently occurring type is major depression with a prevalence of about 10% in men and 20% in woman. The typical symptoms are (1) depressed mood, (2) difficulties in concentrating, (3) loss of energy and interest and, as the most dangerous aspect, (4) thoughts and (not so rarely) commitment of suicide. Apart from these unipolar affective disorders there is a second main type with... 

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