2023-06-04 08:34:00
The most common psychiatric disorder, depression is an illness that can occur at any stage of life. What are the signs of depression and how to prevent it?
Pmore widespread than you might think, the depression affects, in 2023, 5% of adults in the world, according to theWorld Health Organization (WHO), which characterized it as a state of “persistent sadness and a lack of interest or pleasure in previously rewarding or enjoyable activities”. We often talk about depressedof “the Blues“, thus invoking the onset of depression. But this only really declares itself when the mood is pathologically frozen in sadness. This means that there must be a persistence of at least 15 days with an impact on the behavior of the patient who handicaps both personal and professional life.
Can have repercussions on all aspects of life, depression “is one of the main causes of disability in the world”, informs us the WHO, this mental disorder can take root in childhood and later. of one combination of psychological, social and biological factors.
Moreover, if we are not not all equal in the face of depressionwomen are also, statistically speaking, more affected by this mental illness than men, either 2 times more in France according to a study by Public Health France published in 2018 (13% against 6.4%). Data that can be called into question, given the fact that women consult more than menpoint out several surveys.
How to diagnose depression?
To understand depression, it must be seen as the result of multiple symptoms and not see it as an isolated sign. Le “Diagnostic and Stastitical Manual of Mental Discorders” (DSM-IV), an American reference work in the identification of mental disorders, class indeed all of these signs. Not only themood is concerned, but the bodily and cognitive functioning are also affected.
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The diagnosis of depression is made when, on the 9 major signs listed in the DSM-IVa certain number is detected, after which the verdict will also give the type of depression experienced by the patient. The doctor can then propose a treatment adapted to the depressive disorders of his patients. Which often leads to a treatment in psychotherapy and in the case of more severe forms of depression, taking medications.
THE 9 symptoms of depression ⬇️
- Depressed mood: it is when one has “a pessimistic vision of the world and of oneself” according to the High Authority of Healthwhich is characterized by irritability, lasting and unjustified despair.
- Eating disorders : significant weight loss linked to a lack of appetite or weight gain linked to the feeling of inner emptiness, may occur.
- Sleeping troubles : episodes of insomnia can set in gradually or, on the contrary, hypersomnia which, even if this disorder is characterized by excessively long sleep phases, does not prevent the person from feeling exhausted.
- Permanent tiredness : Lasting loss of energy that does not improve with rest.
- Psychomotor behavior disorder : agitation or slowing down of gestures and speech rate, although generally people affected are more prone to slowness which can also affect digestion.
- Guilt and worthlessness : without justification, the person will experience extreme guilt, feeling responsible for his condition, which is accompanied by a loss of self-esteem.
- Cognitive disorders : Decreased reasoning ability, memory loss and difficulty concentrating can affect a person with depression.
- Dark thoughts : negative thoughts, even recurrent morbid thoughts, such as ideas of suicide scenarios, acting out being the main risk of depression.
- Loss of interest in social life: activities, outings and hobbies no longer provide pleasure, which leads to withdrawal and isolation.
Depressive episode or severe depression?
To accurately identify the psychological condition of the patient, the doctor relies on different forms of depression which differ in their sustainability. The most common form of depression beingdepressive episode, occurring over a period of at least two weeks she is considered as unipolar, since it does not include “manic” phases as the bipolar depression.
Nearly a third of individuals experience only one only episode in their existence. Environ 20% of the world’s population, according to INSERM. But if it is not taken seriously, it can nevertheless become recurring in the future. The doctor speaks of recurrent depressive disorderwith depressive episodes lasting for months.
Since the levels of depression are classified according to the intensity and number of symptoms experienced, severe forms can dangerously affect the patient’s life, possibly leading to a isolation totalthen to suicide. Therefore, a major depressive episode (MDE) is declared when “5 of the symptoms mentioned above are felt over a minimum period of two weeks”teaches us the High Authority of Health.
Severe forms of depression:
- Severe melancholy depression: the highest level of depression, it results in an inability to enjoy life and a loss of interest in the outside world.
- Severe seasonal depression : it has the same signs as severe depression, but generally occurs episodically in autumn or winter period.
- Postpartum depression severe : mainly affecting women, depressive symptoms occur after the birth of a child and they persist beyond.
- Reactive depression severe : divorce, bereavement and other emotional shock are at the origin of this type of depression where the state of sadness becomes a pathology.
- Severe depression with psychotic symptoms : the depressive state is accompanied by psychotic symptoms, namely hallucinationsas well as phases of delirium.
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