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Communication: a person-centred approach
Published in Nicola Neale, Joanne Sale, Developing Practical Nursing Skills, 2022
Depression is a common mental disorder characterised by sadness, loss of interest in activities and decreased energy. It is differentiated from normal mood changes by the extent of its severity, the symptoms and the duration of the disorder. It is estimated that 264 million people worldwide experience depression (WHO 2020). According to NICE (2020), ‘depression is two to three times more common in people with a chronic physical health problem; for these people, functional impairment is likely to be greater than if a person has depression or the physical health problem alone’. NICE (2019) suggests that in the year 2017–18, over 4.5 million adults had a diagnosis of depression. This is around 10% of all adults registered with a GP, up from around 6% in 2012–13.
The Moment of Death: Is Hospice Making a Difference?
Published in Inge B. Corless, Zelda Foster, The Hospice Heritage: Celebrating Our Future, 2020
Depression may be moderated and despair prevented. All the processes identified above have the potential for supporting a safe passage through the last phase of life. Depression and even despair remain possibilities, as will be further discussed below, but there is little doubt that many dying people-and their families-have been helped to avoid the depths of despair.
Physical treatments for depression
Published in Simon Lovestone, Robert Howard, Depression in Elderly People, 2020
Simon Lovestone, Robert Howard
A small proportion of patients with depression will not recover, despite four to six weeks of treatment with adequate antidepressant doses. In such cases, treatment with either ECT or augmentation of drug treatment with lithium or another class of antidepressant (e.g. adding an SSRI to existing treatment with a tricyclic) is often effective (Fig. 8).
Implementation of an Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline for Depression Screening of the Adolescent
Published in Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 2023
This evidence-based project used a pretest and posttest assessment to evaluate provider knowledge surrounding educational offerings. The pretest and posttest were based on evidence and evaluated by experts in the field. The questions included:Current use of adolescent depression screening.Depression treatment options.Familiarity with depression screen tools.Comfort level with depression screening and assessment in adolescents.
An examination of the mental health and academic performance of student veterans
Published in Journal of American College Health, 2022
Kent D. Hinkson, Malisa M. Drake-Brooks, Kate L. Christensen, Michelle D. Chatterley, Audrianne K. Robinson, Sheila E. Crowell, Paula G. Williams, Craig J. Bryan
PTSD and depression have been independently linked to lower grade point averages (GPA) among university students.14–17 Symptoms of depression include depressed mood, loss of interest, insomnia or excessive sleep, changes in activity level, changes in appetite, feelings of worthlessness/guilt, and decreased ability to focus or concentrate.18 These negative effects are particularly pronounced in the classroom, with many students having reported missing class, exams, or assignments because of their symptoms.17 The number of students experiencing negative effects from depression has increased from 11.4% to 16.7% over the last five years. 19 While the reason behind this increase is not yet well understood, its impact on overall academic achievement is evident through decreased exam scores and course grades, as well as higher rates of students dropping classes and receiving an incomplete grade.19
The Role of Suffering in the “Tired of Life” Debate
Published in The American Journal of Bioethics, 2022
Guy Widdershoven, Aartjan Beekman, Natalie Evans, Sisco van Veen
Second, elderly who report wanting to die because of being “tired with life” may suffer from symptoms which indicate a mental or somatic illness. The most obvious example is a death wish due to a depressive disorder. Hallmark symptoms of depression are a low mood, a diminished interest and pleasure in activities, fatigue, feelings of worthlessness, and indeed recurrent thoughts of death (American Psychiatric Association 2013). These symptoms can be subtle and require careful interviewing by an expert to be adequately identified. If indeed a depression is present, different treatments are possible, ranging from simple social interventions to psychotherapy or medication. Independent of depression, perceived burdensomeness, the irrational feeling that you are a burden to your surroundings, appears to be a risk factor for suicidality in elderly and can act as a target for psychotherapy (Cukrowicz et al. 2011). Also somatic disorders can cause disfunction, depression and suicidal ideations, such as urinary tract infections or anemia (Thein et al. 2009; Chae and Miller 2015). In order to make an informed choice, it is important that elderly who are contemplating death are seen by a medical expert, who discusses with them how they view their situation, whether their feelings are realistic and whether subsidiary treatment options are available. Being “tired of life” as such does not indicate illness, but it is important that illness is excluded.