6.1 Depressive Disorders
Activity
Read and watch the embedded PowerPoint with several important videos. Upon completion review pages 155-188 in your DSM V
We all feel down in the dumps? Or feeling blue? We all have experienced lows at some point in time in our lives. The question is, ” are you clinically depressed? Feeling down in the dumps is temporary lasting a few days.
Depressive disorders are the most common of all psychiatric disorders. Please don’t underestimate the severity of symptoms associated with the diagnoses in this classification that interfere with one’s thinking, feelings while disrupting ADL’s (Activities of Daily Living). Depression can be diagnosed at any age. According to the National Institute of Mental Health researchers ,”suggest that depression is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.”
It’s important to note that in the current DSM V, there are several new diagnoses which include the following: Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, Persistent Depressive Disorder (used to be called Dysthymia) and Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder. After many years of questioning and misdiagnosing children with bipolar disorder, the American Psychiatric Association studied mood disturbances in children. Children often displayed “different behaviors, compared to adults suffering from a depressive disorder. For children up to the age of 12 who display “persistent irritability and frequent episodes of severe recurrent out of control behavior (verbally, aggressively) if they meet criteria can be diagnosed with DMDD.
There are several signs and symptoms that we need to be mindful of or to listen for when working with others. If a person reports experiencing some of the following signs/ symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day, for at least two weeks, they may be suffering from depression: According to the DSM V (page 155) The COMMON FEATURES for all the diagnoses in this classification include; presence of being sad, empty, irritable mood, accompanied by somatic and cognitive changes.”
Clients will say things like:
I always feel sad, fearful, anxious or “empty”
I am so irritable, I can’t stand myself, strong feelings of hopelessness
Some may express feelings of guilt, remorse, sense of worthlessness or being helpless
Comments about “I have no interest” loss of pleasure in previous actives or hobbies
I have no energy, I can’t get motivated
Feeling restless
Hard time concentrating, remembering, or making daily decisions
Sleep disturbance
Loss of appetite/weight loss, weight gained
May feel suicidal, may attempt, thoughts of death
Assessments
There are a variety of assessments that can be used to assist you in determining a clinical diagnoses. NO assessment will provide the answer, the assessments are tools in assisting you in collecting data along with you using your clinical judgement.
Beck Depression Inventory (BDI)
There are several online assessment through the American Psychiatric Association
–> Online Assessment Measures through the American Psychiatric Association
Level 2-Depression—Adult (Emotional Distress—Depression—Short Form)
LEVEL 2—Mania—Adult
LEVEL 2—Sleep Disturbance—Adult
Severity Measure for Depression—Adult(adapted from the Patient Health Questionnaire–9
Clinician-Rated Severity of Nonsuicidal Self-Injury
Severity Measure for Depression—Child Age 11–17
Self-Rated Level 1 Cross-Cutting Symptom Measure—Child Age 11–17
Behavior Assessment for Children (BASC) 2-21 years of age
Child Behavior Check List (CBCL)
Treatment
NOTE: Depressive Disorders are TREATABLE!! More so then many medical problems
Additional interventions/strategies to use with individual diagnosed with a depressive disorder.
Encourage the individual to walk, bike ride, hike, get physically moving/active
Establish realistic daily goals
Spend time with others trusted individuals
BELIEVE and EXPECT your mood will improve, slowly
Hold off on making any important decisions (getting divorced, married, separation until you feel better)
Learn about the disorder
