Major depressive disorder
Major depressive disorder entails a mood disorder that results to unending feelings of sadness
and losing interest in day-to-day life activities. To some extent, the patient feels worthless and
sees no meaning in life (American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
.
Signs and symptoms
Outburst over
petty issues
and minor
things
Feelings of
being sad,
easily
irritated
Loss of interest in
sex and normal
hobbies such as
swimming, playing
football e.tc
Slow body reflexes
i.e. motion, speech
L appetite or
too much
to
gain
Feelings of being
tired all time, loss of
energy of indulging
in any actvity
Too much of sleep
evening during odd
hours or lack of
sleep altogether
Differential Diagnoses
Bipolar I and II
disorders.
Persistent depressive
disorder
Disruptive mood
dysregulation
disorder
Cyclothymic disorder
Mood swings that
range from highs
(mania) to lows
(depression).
More chronic type of
depression visible
through persistent
mood swings
Severe anger High and lows moods
throughout
Irritability Loss of sleep or too
much sleep
Picky and easily
irritated by minor
issues
Milder than those of
Bipolar 1
(APA, 2013);
Incidence
There is an estimated
17 million people in
America who have
experienced one or
more incidences of
MDD
This number is huge
since it represents more
than 6% of the entire
United states adult
population.
The ratio of women
with MDD was higher
as compared to that of
men at 9% and 5%
respectively.
Development and
Course
The age of onset is
still not clear
However, inherited
habits and traits can
initiate the condition
at an early age.
Drug and alcohol may
trigger MDD.
Hormonal changes
especially in women
results to the
development of
MDD.
P
F had a higher
rate to
MDD
E detection and
helped
controlling and
MDD
T rate of stress
the levels
MDD
(APA, 2013);
Considerations in relation to client’s Age, Gender and culture
Very small social friends Physical health problems such as
severe headaches that are
unexplained
Socially unavailable
Unclear speech and
thought process
Appearing isolated
and detached
Low self-worth
(feelings of
worthlessness
Irritability and difficult in coping
up with the rest
F of wanting to commit
Poor in remembering events
(APA, 2013); Brunoni, A. R. et al. (2017).
(APA, 2013);
Used
independentl
y or with
medications
Diminishes recurrent
chances
F Children For
Adolescents
CBT manage
symptoms of
MDD
G
They control
MDD by
managing serotine
function in the
brain
Citalopram
(Celexa)
Sertraline
(Zoloft)
Non-pharmacological
treatment
Pharmacological
treatment
(APA, 2013);
Aggressive, withdrawn and
doesn’t want to disclose much
information
C for trauma especially
impacts can lead to major
disorder
Lab and diagnostics
(APA, 2013).
I and prefers to stay
Clinical screening for
hyperthyroidism, which is linked to
depression
(APA, 2013);
Brunoni, A. R. et al.
(2017).
References
Patient education and
considerations on
MDD
Patients should be
informed of the entire
list of symptoms
The education of
patient can enhance
adherence to
treatment plan
Patients should be informed
of the reason of choice of
therapy or treatment
Legal and Ethical Considerations
The client should be furnished with adequate information and knowledge
concerning the types of medication and therapy.
The client should be treated with utmost repect and with freedom to make
a choice on when to and not participate in the therapy.
The therapists should ensure that the interest of the client are safeguarded
The rules and regulations of the therapy session should be read to the
client at the beginning of the each session.
(American Psychiatric Association, 2013).
(APA, 2013); Park LT, Zarate CA Jr. (2019).
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), American Psychiatric Association, Arlington 2013.
Park LT, Zarate CA Jr. (2019). Depression in the Primary Care Setting. N Engl J Med 2019;
380:559.
Brunoni, A. R. et al. (2017). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for the acute treatment
of major depressive episodes: A systematic review with network meta-analysis.AJAMA
PsychiatryA74, 143–152 (2017).
