Argues that over-prescribing anti-depressants world-wide could prevent rape survivors from seeking and receiving treatment for depression and other mental health diseases.
Abstract This paper contends that the skyrocketing number of prescriptions for anti-depressants recently has caused some to worry that patients, such as rape victims, who could benefit from the addition of medication in their recovery, might not be able to get the much-needed medicine.
From the Paper "The recent FDA decision regarding SSRI's (Selective Seratonin Reuptake Inhibitors) has caused the medical community to scale down anti-depressant prescriptions in recent months. This project in intended to shed light on the growing problem of over-prescribing anti-depressants and the effects that ultimately could prevent rape survivors from receiving the much needed medications they need for recovery."
Abstract This paper examines depression as stemming from the highly stressful, intensely competitive nature of modern society. It points out that the physical, mental, and social state of well-being of millions of people is being harmed because of the destructive aspects of the natural, social, built, and economic spheres in which they live. The paper particularly examines the problems surrounding the increasing use of anti-depressants to treat depression, such as dependence, abuse, the drugs' possible harmful side effects, and exploitation by drug companies. The paper concludes that too many people turn to "wonder drugs" for help when they cannot deal with the emotional and psychological stress induced by society.
From the Paper "In recent years, depression in young adults has been increasingly treated with prescription drug anti-depressants such as Prozac and Paxil. The increasing use of these prescription antidepressant drugs has several implications, for recent studies have shown that more than twenty percent of young adults in the general population have emotional problems and one-third of young adults attending psychiatric clinics suffer from depression. Just as troubling, depression in this age group is greatly under-diagnosed, which presents even more implications."
Abstract This paper examines how anti-depressants affect brain chemistry by exploring the biology of depression itself. It shows how the biochemical systems within the human brain are extremely complex and how anti-depressants work by boosting and increasing parts of the monoamine system.
Outline
Introduction: The Biology of Depression Anti-Depressants as Drugs
Anti-Depressant Medications and the Brain
Conclusion
From the Paper "In recent times, numerous studies have shown that people who are depressed have abnormal amounts of certain hormones in their blood. Researchers believe that an increase or decrease in the production of specific hormones may interfere with the brain's natural chemistry which then leads to depression. With the exception of thyroid hormones, the levels of other hormones are not routinely measured when diagnosing or treating depression; thus, when a person is experiencing specific types of depression, it is advisable to check the levels of other hormones within the body. Thyroid glands, when not functioning properly, can result in the release of either too much thyroid hormone (hyperthyroidism) or too little (hypothyroidism)."
Abstract This paper discusses the use and misuse of antidepressants prescribed for children. The paper begins by examining the role of the physician and the family in treating childhood depression. Next the paper asks what ethical concerns must be considered when proscribing anti-depressants to children. The paper also looks at what complications can arise and offers recommendations for future use.
Tags: Antidepressant, Physician, Drugs, Medical, Ethical, ADHD, Medications, Children
Abstract This paper is divided into three sections. The first section explores anti-depressant drugs, their characteristics, and how they work on the central nervous system. The second section investigates the acute and chronic effects of antidepressant drugs and whether drugs such as Prozac are necessary to assist such disorders. Finally, the debate as to whether antidepressants are safe and effective in the wide usage for depression is examined.
From the Paper "While the management of depression with non-pharmacological agents (i.e., counseling, psychotherapy, electroconvulsant therapy (ECT) and light therapy) has been an option, the pharmacological agents (antidepressants) such as Prozac have promoted as effective and safe in the treatment of depression (Turkington & Kaplan 1994). The Sumerians in the Tigris-Euphrate valley were aware of the mood elevating effects of opium poppy 5,000 years ago, and they used the juice to give relaxation to people whom presented symptoms similar to being depressed. However, it was not until the 1930's that the clinical structure was described (Stahl, 1996). Iproniazid was developed to treat or ease the symptom of tuberculosis. While the drug was in use to ease the symptoms of tuberculosis, the drugs "happy" effect was noticed."
Tags: despondancy, hopelessness, abnormalities, responsiveness, neurotransmitter, systems
Abstract Depression is basically a psychiatric disorder characterized by an inability to concentrate, insomnia, loss of appetite, anhedonia, feelings of extreme sadness, guilt, helplessness and hopelessness and thoughts of death. The paper shows that the causes and treatments put forth by various experts on depression may conflict with each other, but the one thing that everyone agrees upon is the severity and undesirability of depression and the need to employ means and treatment to cure it.
Paper Outline:
Introduction
Psycho-Analytical Perspective
Cognitive-Behavioral Perspective
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "The research conducted in 1960s, indicates that people suffering from depression have imbalances of neurotransmitters which are the substances that allow brain cells to communicate with one another. These transmitters are Serotonin and Norepinephrine. A shortage of either of these may result in depressive mood. The irregular activity of Cortisol, a hormone that the body produces in response to stress, anger, or fear, may also result in depression."
Abstract This paper analyzes St. Johns Wort (SJW), a common herbal treatment. It offers an insight into how its constituents affect us neurologically with its primary ingredients of hypericin, hyperflorin and various flavanoids and describes how, although SJW can be used for various treatments, the main condition that it is used for is depression. It provides a comparative study of conventional anti-depressive agents and their relative side effects and shows how the demand for herbal medicines today is rising at exponential rates, with an obvious advantage such as reductions in the number of side effects. It evaluates whether herbal medicines all that they claim to be and if they contain any profound pharmacological constituents or whether they give just a placebo effect.
From the Paper "Herbal medicines are clearly mixtures of more than one active ingredient and in many instances, we are not sure which or how many constituents are pharmacologically important. Furthermore, in trying to acquire the mechanisms of action of plant extracts is often complicated even if we know the active ingredient because such extracts contain a wide range of pharmacologically active constituents that might work together to contribute to the pharmacological activity. [1] Our understanding is further dinted if the molecular basis of the disease under investigation is not well understood."
Abstract This paper looks at the main biological theory of depression, which is known as the monoamine-deficiency hypothesis. The paper first discusses the controversy surrounding anti-depressant medications and the effect of serotonin on the brain and highlights the difficulty in proving the efficacy of these drugs. The paper then looks at cognitive theories of depression, with a focus on Aaron Beck's cognitive model, and notes the studies that support and validate this theory. The paper points out that no single theory about such a complex phenomenon as depression can be considered 'complete'.
Outline:
Biological Theories of Depression Cognitive Theories of Depression
From the Paper "Research into the causes of depression since the 1950s has given rise to several 'biological' theories of depression, including perhaps the most popular hypothesis that a deficiency (or imbalance) of important neurotransmitters such as noreineprine and serotonin in the brain are largely responsible for major depressive disorder (Alladin, 2005, p.8). This biological theory of depression is also called the Monoamine-Deficiency Hypothesis. The theory emanated from the study of early antidepressants developed in the 1950s, which increased the availability of neurotransmitters (norepinephrine and serotonin) in certain areas of the brain and seemed to help alleviate major depressive disorder in a large number of patients (Belmaker and Agam, 2008)."
Abstract This paper examines and analyzes depression. The discussion includes statistics, causes of depression, symptoms, treatment, anti-depressant drugs and their effectiveness, and related aspects of depression and its consequences.
Abstract This paper discusses the condition of depression and the possible causes of its development. It analyzes techniques used for treating depression, such as electroconvulsive therapy, as well as drugs prescribed for depression, such as mirtazapine, vanlafaxine and duloxetine.
From the Paper " Electroconvulsive therapy applies shock to cause a seizure (FamilyDoc.org, 2005). The seizure releases many chemicals in the brain, called neurotransmitters, which deliver information or messages from one brain cell to another. This makes the brain cells work better and the person's mood will improve when brain cells and chemical messengers work better. In applying the therapy, the doctor first conducts a physical examination of the patient. If he or she is fit, an anesthesiologist applies anesthesia to put the patient in a sleep-like state. The anesthesiologist examines the heart and lungs of the patient or decides if some blood tests or an electrocardiogram will be needed before undertaking the first ECT treatment (FamilyDoc)."
Abstract This paper explains the triggers and diagnosis of depression, and some of the social, psychological and genetic factors that together predispose a person to depression. The author then discusses the medications used to treat depression and explains that 30% of sufferers do not respond to them. The author also lists several studies that demonstrate that physical activity produces a positive effect on depression and anxiety, as well as other disorders such as hypertension, bulimia and insomnia. The paper lists the types of exercise that have been shown to be most beneficial, and concludes with healthy exercise recommendations from experts.
Outline:
Predisposing Factors
Treatments
Physical Activity as Treatment
From the Paper "Recent studies were conducted at the Duke University on the positive effect of physical activity on depression. The results of the major study said that an acute or strong dose of physical activity, rather than sustained regular exercise, could be the most effective way to handle or reduce feelings of depression, anger and fatigue. It was part of a larger, five-year study, which compared the treatments for depression. These were a four-month exercise program, drug therapy, and a combination of exercise and medication. It tested a group of 55 respondents, over 50 years old. After the test, 82% reported reduction of depression, tension, fatigue, anger and confusion (Camacho)."
Abstract The author evaluates the use of anti-depressants, and analyzes the patient's experience using Goffman's classic social psychology theory of 'Stigma'. Included are discussions of the concepts of moral career, information management versus interaction management, and discreditable versus discrediting stigmas.
From the Paper "Despite the recent popularity of drugs such as Prozac and Paxil, depression and the use of antidepressants are stigmatized in American society. In this paper I will show how a college student, whom I will call Amanda, has been stigmatized for this reason. I will use concepts of personal identity and interaction from Erving Goffman's Stigma to elucidate the workings of stigma in this case."
This paper studies the causes and effects of the great depression which took place in 1929 in the United States, describing the unemployment, hardship, hunger and despair of that time.
Abstract This paper studies the political, social, and economic factors that brought on the great depression in 1929 in the United States. It gives a historical overview of the situation before the outbreak of the great depression and the part that World War I played in causing it. The author feels that many people believe that the stock market crash of 1929 caused the great depression, but this is not true. He also finds that many people believed that President Roosevelt's New Deal ended the great depression, but this is also not completely factual. According to the author, historical facts show that the stock market crash was the beginning of the great depression but that political, social, and economic problems were the real causes. Also, historical evidence shows that The New Deal helped the recovery but that the United States' entry into World War II was the main reason that the great depression ended.
From the Paper "This is one of the most famous songs of The Great Depression, a time beginning in 1929 and lasting until 1940. This was a time of unemployment, hardship, hunger, and despair. Many people believe that the stock market crash of 1929 caused the Great Depression, but this is not true. Many people also believe that President Roosevelt's New Deal ended the Great Depression, but this is also not completely factual. The historical facts show that the stock market crash was the beginning of the Great Depression but that political, social, and economic problems were the real causes. Also, historical evidence shows that The New Deal helped the recovery but that the United States entering into World War II was the main reason that the Great Depression ended."
Argues that the nursing profession should provide instruction about the causes of depression and its treatment so that nurses can better assist in the depressed patient's cure.
2,400 words (approx. 9.6 pages), 8 sources, 2002, $ 89.95
Abstract The questions about what causes depression are not so important as complicating the theories about depression. This necessary complication of theory is essential for understanding the depressed person as a complex person, and for generating kinds of intervention therapies that can ease the symptoms of depression. Because there is no specific cure, as yet, for depression, it is crucial that people in the health care professions have greater theoretical resources for understanding the relations between the environment and the person. Nurses in particular need to participate more with the work of theorizing, because they mediate the relations between the client, or patient, and the larger medical institution that effects their care.
